Celtics’ Brown scoring points off the court

Jaylen Brown spoke with the media for more than seven minutes on Sunday night without a mention of the just concluded Celtics’ overtime victory.

The Boston forward continued his quest to raise awareness for social injustice, saying that the term "police brutality’’ might need to be instead referred to as "domestic terrorism.’’

Brown also spoke about NBA players and mental-health issues that may be arising, especially during their extended [...]

Jaylen Brown spoke with the media for more than seven minutes on Sunday night without a mention of the just concluded Celtics’ overtime victory.

The Boston forward continued his quest to raise awareness for social injustice, saying that the term "police brutality’’ might need to be instead referred to as "domestic terrorism.’’

Brown also spoke about NBA players and mental-health issues that may be arising, especially during their extended confinement inside the bubble at Disney World where the season is being completed.

Brown and the Celtics have just two regular-season games remaining, including a matchup on Tuesday against the Memphis Grizzlies (5 p.m.).

After the Celtics slipped past the Orlando Magic in OT on Sunday, Brown began his media session by talking about the need to vote and Breonna Taylor, the Louisville woman shot to death in March when police mistakenly entered her home with a no-knock warrant.

"I also want to take a look at the term police brutality and maybe offer a different perspective,’’ added Brown. "Flash back to May 25th, 2020. We watched George Floyd, a human being, be violently killed. The four men who nonchalantly terrorized Floyd belonged to a state-sponsored law enforcement that historically in America has targeted and profiled Black and minority civilian populations throughout time.

"I’m aware that some Americans have the birthright and the privilege to see police officers as protectors or maybe even peacekeepers or maybe even embrace heroism. Unfortunately, I’m not from that side of America.

"I’m from the other side where people are in fear or in terror of the police where you can be killed in your own backyard for reaching for your wallet. Your parents have to teach you certain behaviors because they’re in fear that if you run into the police, you might not come home. I’m aware that without being drafted by the Celtics, without being in the place I am now, that I would still be on that other side of America.’’

Brown went on to say there might be a need to call "police brutality’’ something else.

"I want to take a look at the term ‘police brutality’ and maybe offer another term — ‘domestic terrorism’ — because that’s what it was in the eyes of George Floyd and that’s what it was in the eyes of Treyvon Martin, that’s what it is in the eyes of a lot of people of color in minority communities on our own soil,’’ said Brown.

"The framework … this country was kind of built on started with slavery, to Jim Crow, to separate but equal, to where we’re at now. It kind of has trickled down in effect to systemic racism. We can rectify (it) with some policy change. There’s a lot of places where we can have change. The bottom line is we need to do it and we need to do it now.’’

Brown has been outspoken about the need for change and made a 15-hour drive from Boston to Atlanta in May to take part in a protest after the death of Floyd. He has been one of the more vocal NBA players speaking out at Disney World.

On the subject of mental health, Brown noted that players such as Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers and DeMar DeRozan of the San Antonio Spurs have already raised the topic.

Brown is worried that players are building anxiety by being inside the bubble. The Celtics arrived at Disney World on July 8 and will be there for as long as they are alive in the playoffs.

"I definitely want to bring awareness to mental health, anxiety, forms of depression in times like this and places like this, the bubble,’’ said Brown. "Athletes probably struggle with that and don’t speak openly about it.

"I know the bubble, they make images of pool tables and swimming pools and all this other stuff. It’s tough being here, being away from our family, being isolated from the rest of society. It’ll be interesting to see the long-term effects of being here.

"Even being here in this bubble, I want to bring attention to mental health awareness. Being here in this bubble people might not speak on it, but it is a challenge to a lot of guys. It’s like you’re at work all the time. A lot of times a lot of guys, when they get done playing basketball, they want to be able to leave and forget about basketball for a little bit. It’s impossible here in the bubble.’’

Around the rim

The meaningless regular-season finale between the Celtics and the Wizards on Thursday will begin at noon. The Celtics will then have at least three days off before the start of the playoffs next week. … Coach Brad Stevens is expected to rest his main players in one of the final two games since the team is locked into the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference. … The Grizzlies (33-38), Tuesday’s opponent, are in a battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Celtics will be getting Memphis’ draft pick this year if it does not fall in the top six.

jfenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent