BOSTON -- Celtics second-year swingman Jaylen Brown, never bashful about sharing his opinions about issues beyond basketball, will speak at Harvard University on Thursday night as part of a speaker series for its Graduate School of Education.
"To be honest, I'm overwhelmed. I've been preparing mentally for it, so I'm looking forward to it," Brown said Wednesday after scoring 15 points in Boston's 134-106 triumph over the Charlotte Hornets at TD Garden.
"I don't know necessarily what to expect in terms of what the crowd will be or the expectations, but I've got some interesting ideas and I can't wait to share them."
The 21-year-old's invite stemmed from a simple social media exchange after students and staff at the university saw Brown's comments on issues including politics and race. Brown, who played one season at Cal, had previously expressed a desire to immerse himself in Boston's higher-education scene.
"Who wouldn't be intrigued by that? Harvard only asks a select few people to come give a lecture or come speak at Harvard," Brown said. "I think the last person they had was like Cornel West or Colin Powell. So it's a pleasure to be able to speak in front of a crowd like that at a prestigious university such as Harvard.
"I can't wait to get out there and share my ideas."
As part of the university's Askwith Forums, Brown is scheduled to engage in a one-on-one discussion with Harvard Graduate School of Education professor Jal Mehta.
The HGSE said the discussion will touch on Brown's basketball journey. But other topics will include institutionalized sport and education, inequality by design, the role sports play in society and why Brown thinks athletes can -- and should -- be ready to use their celebrity and prominence to speak up and advocate for change.
On the night before his visit, Brown wasn't giving any hints as to what he might say.
"You'll have to be there to see it," Brown said.
What's more clear is how Brown's activism has resonated with his coach and more-veteran teammates.
"From when I met Jaylen last year as a rookie, what stood out to me was just his maturity," said Celtics big man Al Horford, who spent time this offseason working out with Brown in Georgia. "He's a guy that's not your average second-year guy. I feel like he's very aware of the world and he's not afraid to take chances. Getting to know him, that's what I've seen.
"He's not afraid to take chances, to try different things, to go different places. And that's great for a young guy to have that open mind and that understanding."
How exactly is Brown willing to take chances?
"I'm talking about his life in general," Horford said. "I know that he plays piano, he's trying to learn another language. He's just out there. And I feel like, even on the court, he's out there trying different things and trying to challenge himself, I feel like, to improve. And he's the kinda guy that he'll go and chase Klay Thompson around, but he will also bang with [Serge] Ibaka or just with a big. That's just the kind of guy that he is. I think that how he is off the court, it's on the court too."
Part of what drew the Celtics to Brown was his desire to learn and grow.
"Obviously, he's a smart guy and he's really curious about getting better on the basketball court and a lot of other things," said Boston coach Brad Stevens. "I've really enjoyed spending time around him. I think he's really thoughtful. I think he's a guy that wants to continue to grow in every way.
"We've talked about -- we want guys in here that are growth-oriented and have that mindset. That was clear before we drafted him, just in meeting with him, that he had that."
