The Boston Celtics were without Jaylen Brown during this week’s practice as the NBA Cup wrapped up, and the absence resulted from a serious family matter.
Brown’s mother, Mechalle Brown, was targeted by a home burglary in Massachusetts, per WCVB’s Duke Castiglione, prompting the reigning NBA Finals MVP to rush toward her residence. It appeared nothing was taken from the home and nobody suffered physical harm at the hands of the culprits, who are said to “be part of a larger criminal ring” focused on targeting professional athletes while they’re away from their homes, per Castiglione, who cited sources.
The NFL, too, has seen a spike in recent home invaders targeting its league’s brightest stars.
Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were victims of home break-ins in October while Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow endured a burglary this month at his residence — while the 28-year-old was on the road playing the Dallas Cowboys.
NBA veterans Bobby Portis and Mike Conley — both within the last two months — were also hit by similar home invasions, resulting in stolen valuables.
Both the NBA and NFL joined forces last month urging players to take all precautions necessary to help protect their homes.
“The NBA, which has also been giving guidance to team security personnel, recommended that players install updated alarm systems with cameras and use them whenever leaving the home, keep valuables in locked and secured safes, remove online real estate listings that may show interior photos of a home, ‘utilize protective guard services’ during extended trips from the home and even have dogs assist with home protection,” per ESPN.
Brown and the Celtics returned to Boston after a brief trip to defeat the Washington Wizards in the nation’s capital, just before the team received a three-day break while the NBA Cup championship was being played in Las Vegas. The Celtics, however, have spent the entirety of the week at the Auerbach Center, preparing for Thursday night’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls at TD Garden.
Brown was spotted at Celtics practice on Wednesday.
