Jaylen Brown drops wisdom beyond basketball.
"I've Been to Some Very Dark Places": Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Addresses Battle With Anxiety, Depression originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jaylen Brown isn’t afraid to speak about his struggles, and his honesty is giving fans a deeper look into the mind of one of the NBA’s rising leaders.
In a candid interview with "The School of Hard Knocks", the Boston Celtics star opened up about mental health, his faith and the challenges that have shaped his journey to becoming a four-time All-Star.
"I've dealt with anxiety, even depression. I've been to some very dark places," Brown said. "But I feel like those dark places have allowed my light to shine."
Mental Health in the NBA Spotlight
When asked what advice he would give someone going through rock bottom, Brown didn’t hold back.
“It’s OK. Never let anything break your spirit. Everybody’s gonna deal with adversity at some point—even plants struggle to get sunlight.”
His words reflect a deeper maturity, especially at a time when the Celtics are in transition. With Jayson Tatum sidelined and several key players traded, Brown now becomes the central figure in Boston’s 2025–26 campaign.
When asked if he believes in God, Brown answered without hesitation: “I do. And anytime I’ve ever been alone, I’ve just always filled that space with the Most High. He’s always guided me. Faith, consistency and hard work pay off.”
That sense of purpose has been tested, and refined, through years of sacrifice. Brown spoke to CelticsBlog this summer about how he's often had to play roles he didn’t agree with.
“I’ve had to change roles, styles. I’ve had to do things that other players of my talent just haven’t had to do… I’ve always been a team guy. I feel like sometimes that gets taken for granted.”
Yet his outlook is far from bitter. If anything, he seems more determined than ever. “I’m one of the talented people in this league… I’m looking forward to showing the world more.”
Brown’s 2024-25 season averages—22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds 4.5 assists—are likely to rise. As for his advice to younger fans, Brown offered a poetic metaphor: “The moon steals light from the sun, but people never get the two confused… People will imitate you, take your style, take your lingo, but the sun still shines every day.”
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Basketball
