Brandon Boston Jr. is a New Man
Nine short months ago, we watched Brandon Boston Jr. cap off his disappointing (albeit brief) Kentucky career with zero points in a season-ending loss to Mississippi State. It was a lost season for the former five-star recruit, just as it was for his team; once a surefire top-five pick, Boston fell all the way to 51st in July’s NBA draft.
What once seemed like a surefire trajectory to stardom now looked like an uphill battle. And just to make it all that much harder, he had to climb that hill without his best friend, Terrence Clarke.
Fast forward to now, and Boston has forged himself a new path. Since joining the L.A. Clippers, he’s looked like a different player entirely. He was so dominant in the G League — playing against professional competition, certainly a step up from the SEC — that the Clips were forced to find a spot in their regular rotation. And on Wednesday, he rewarded that faith by dropping a career-high 27 points in a close win over the Boston Celtics.
So what’s changed for Boston? Is this a flash in the pan, or a sign of long-awaited potential finally being realized? The answer might surprise you.
“You’re the best in the world, just keep going.”
Sometimes, a little faith goes a long way. The Clippers showed that faith in Boston from day one by signing him to a guaranteed two-year contract, an uncommon commitment for a second-round pick. But then again, the team has shown a good eye for these things: Terance Mann, another late-second-round pick in 2019, has shown similar star potential in Los Angeles.
Still, for all his upside, Boston had to prove he could do it on the court — something he largely failed to do at Kentucky despite ample opportunity. The fact that he has done so confidently and consistently thus far as a rookie is startling. Through 14 games in the NBA, Boston is averaging 18.6 points per-36 minutes, most of any rookie with 10 or more games played.
After his breakout game against the Celtics, Boston dedicated his performance to Clarke, a Boston native. When asked what his friend would’ve said to him in that moment, he answered candidly:
“Probably [with] a smile on his face, just telling me, ‘I told you. I told you, you’re the best in the world, just keep going.’ That’s the type of relationship we had. He always wished me to be my best self.”
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A Game of Confidence
Seeing him turn the tragedy of Clarke’s death into motivation is really cool to see, and not just because it reminds me of Mookie Wilson’s stance on dinosaurs. This version of Boston is clearly playing with new purpose, and the results are starting to show.
Of course, there’s more to his turnaround than just good vibes. A cursory glance at Boston’s work as a professional shows one significant change: better shot selection. In keeping with the NBA’s near-universal emphasis on “3s and layups,” Boston’s shot profile has shifted dramatically since joining the league: 40% of his shots have come from beyond the arc (up from 34.5% in college), and his effective FG% has risen by 10 points, from 41% to 51%, as a result. His three-point percentage, which dipped as low as 17% during his time in Lexington, is sitting pretty at 43%.
In short, he’s traded John Calipari’s beloved “long twos” approach for actual good shots — and he’s making them. The well-regarded offense of Clippers coach Ty Lue is getting him good looks, and he’s not afraid to take them. Combine this trend with Boston’s high-ceiling pedigree as a shooter, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for success.
The new version of Boston is energized, using his considerable length to turn defense into offense. Plays like this will earn you minutes even when your shots aren’t falling:
But more than anything, he’s playing with confidence. That’s the single biggest difference between the old B.J. Boston and the new Brandon Boston Jr. With Clarke smiling down on him, he’s embracing his potential and chasing his dream of becoming a star at the highest level.
Keep an eye on him, because it might just happen sooner than you think.
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