John Brown, a player for Monaco, spoke to the EuroLeague website about his changing role, the things that don’t show up in the statistics, and defensive responsibilities.
Upon joining Unics, the American player realized that the team was offensively strong, so he had to take a step back. He understood that he needed to contribute to the team in a different way, primarily through defense.
“When I went to Unics, we had a lot of great shooters. I came back the next year, and we had even more shooters. So, you have to do something to get on the floor. That’s what I had to do. I know I can contribute more on offense. But sometimes, less is more. I had to understand that. When you’re on a good team, you don’t have to do it all. Now, I’m just focusing on defense,” John Brown began.
The former member of the Russian team finished third in the voting for the Defensive Player of the Year last year, but this year it seems he wants much more.
“I didn’t win the Defensive Player of the Year award, and I think I’m the best defender in the EuroLeague. I’ll get that respect when I win the Defensive Player of the Year award. That’s when I’ll feel like I’ve reached where I should be.”
The most important thing for a defensive specialist is feeling the support of teammates and coaches for everything he does on the court.
“I go for steals, and that’s why I get love. Even when it’s a deflection off a leg, I’m happy. When we get the ball, we get another chance to score, and we have great scorers on our team, so it’s even better. Opponents have to guard those guys, and I can tell them, good luck!” concluded John Brown.