Jaylen Brown Balances NBA Season Amid Ramadan Fasting

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown enjoyed a celebratory meal in the locker room after the team defeated the Sacramento Kings 113-95 on Monday. Brown’s teammates indulged in soul food from Fixins, a restaurant owned by former NBA player Kevin Johnson, but for Brown, the meal marked the breaking of his fast after a day of Ramadan observance.

Brown, who has been observing Ramadan since it began on February 29, expressed gratitude for the challenge of fasting during the NBA season. “Just mental fortitude. Gratefulness, appreciation for others all over the world that we’re all connected and just mental strength,” Brown told Andscape after the game. “If you can get through that, you can focus more on you. I think that just helps you in real life.”

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Brown, one of an estimated 2 billion Muslims globally participating in this sacred month, stated that it is important for him to strengthen his relationship with Allah through prayer and reflection, while also offering charity.

“It’s just me and the guy upstairs. Just strengthening that relationship,” he added.

Along with Brown, several current NBA players, such as Kyrie Irving and Dennis Schroder, practice Islam. The demands of maintaining peak athletic performance while fasting present unique challenges, and Brown shared that enough rest and support from teammates helps him navigate this period. “Plenty of sleep also aids me during Ramadan,” he noted.

However, the challenges extend beyond fasting. Brown has been dealing with a bone bruise and posterior impingement in his right knee, sidelining him for three games. He returned to the court with modest statistics, contributing nine points and a few rebounds during the Kings game but emphasized the importance of regaining confidence as the playoffs approach. “I’m just trying to build my confidence up with my body to be able to compete when it matters,” he said.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla highlighted the team’s commitment to supporting Brown during Ramadan. “We just give him his time and space,” Mazzulla stated. “The key is, whatever he needs to do, we make sure he’s comfortable.”

As the Celtics prepare for their next game against the Phoenix Suns, Brown acknowledged the season’s demands continue while navigating Ramadan. He reflected, “It’s a challenge just because the time zones are different when you wake up, when you eat breakfast. But I don’t like to make it about me as an athlete.”

Brown has averaged over 20 points per game during the season but reported a dip to 17.7 points in March, which he attributes to his recent injury rather than fasting. Mazzulla expressed confidence in Brown’s abilities, stating, “He does a great job of not letting anything get in the way of competing at a high level.”

As Ramadan draws to a close this Sunday, Brown looks forward to the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a significant event for Muslims marking the end of fasting. “It’s been a great month. I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “I think I’m going to send out some gifts to friends and family to celebrate the fast. It’s a great time of the year.”