I’m Tom Haberstroh, and welcome to “The Big Number.” Today’s significant figure is 20.9. That represents Jaylen Brown’s usage rate in clutch situations this season, placing him 70th in the NBA. Yes, 70th.

Now, the Boston Celtics boast the best record in the league by far. However, when games tighten up, they transform into just another good team. They’ve recorded a 20-11 record in clutch situations this year, which doesn’t lead the league. It’s fourth in the NBA.

Jaylen Brown, a standout for Boston, averages 23.4 points per game. But in tight moments, he often takes a backseat, sometimes even falling to the third or fourth option, allowing his teammate Jayson Tatum to take charge, albeit sometimes with less successful outcomes. Brown’s significant decrease in usage rate during clutch situations highlights this shift, as usage rate measures the percentage of a team’s possessions a player utilizes through field goal attempts, free throw attempts, or turnovers while on the floor.

Overall, Jaylen Brown maintains a 28.3% usage rate. However, when games are within five points in the final five minutes, it drops substantially to 20.9%. This drop of 7.4%, the largest for any 20-point scorer in the NBA, signifies a significant change in approach during crucial moments.

However, it’s not that Brown fails to perform in these critical moments. In fact, his shooting percentages surpass Jayson Tatum’s this season and over the last three seasons in clutch situations. So, if the Boston Celtics aim to enhance their elite status in clutch situations, they require more involvement from Jaylen Brown and less reliance on Jayson Tatum, as evidenced by Brown’s surprising clutch usage rate of 20.9%. I’m Tom Haberstroh, and that’s “The Big Number.”