Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown welcomes ‘mental fortitude’ needed during Ramadan

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Boston Celtics players enjoyed soul food from ex-NBA star Kevin Johnson’s restaurant Fixins in the locker room after routing the Sacramento Kings’ 113-95 on Monday. It was courtesy of Celtics star Jayson Tatum and enjoyed by all of his teammates.

For Celtics star Jaylen Brown, there was probably a deeper appreciation for enjoying a plate of fried chicken, mac and cheese and biscuits since it was his first meal after fasting for more than 14 hours during Ramadan.

Brown says there are a lot of keys to playing in the NBA during the month-long observance of Ramadan.

“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 win against Sacramento. “If you can get through that, you can fast, you can be without and you can focus more on you. I think that just helps you in real life. So, it’s just that mental strength…

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

As one of the estimated 2 billion Muslims across the globe, Brown is observing the holy month of Ramadan to focus on strengthening his relationship with Allah, to focus on prayer and reflection and to offer charity. During Ramadan, Muslims choose to sacrifice by not eating, drinking or succumbing to physical temptations from dawn to sunset. Ramadan, a holy month in Islam, began on the evening of Feb. 29 and concludes on Sunday night.

For any athlete, Ramadan brings a unique challenge having to compete without food and drink. Current NBA players who are practicing Muslims include Brown, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving, Charlotte Hornets center Jusuf Nurkic and Detroit Pistons guard Dennis Schroder. Brown added that plenty of sleep also has aided him during Ramadan.

Fresno State forward Pierre Geneste Jr., a practicing Muslim, missed a loss at San Jose State on March 8 with a 2 p.m. tip-off. Apparently, he overslept and didn’t feel well after missing his pre-dawn meal. The Basketball Africa League pushed back the start of its 2025 season as to not coincide with Ramadan, a source said.

Brown, however, didn’t want any sympathy for being a pro athlete observing Ramadan.

“It’s a challenge just because the time zones are different when you wake up and stuff, when you eat breakfast and stuff like that,” Brown said. “So, you just got to adjust. But people got challenges all over the world. I don’t like to make it about me as an athlete. For me, it’s just a part of my faith and my conviction and I see love and respect to all of those who are fasters all over the world.”

Brown credited the Celtics for being supportive of him through Ramadan “the last couple of years.”

According to sources, the Celtics’ team chefs have made special meals for Brown during Ramadan. He had several to-go boxes of food by his locker after the Kings game and added that meals are prepared for him by team chefs in the morning for him to eat before dawn. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, who is a devout Christian, says it is important for the franchise to support Brown through Ramadan.

“We just give him his time and space,” Mazzulla told Andscape. “I think this is the sixth year he has been doing it. I’m grateful that he does it. And we have so much respect for him doing it and continuing to grow as a person. It makes me a better person.

“The key is whatever he needs to do, he has to do, whether that is having an optional shootaround, whether that is making sure he has food right before the game. You give him the time to practice it and be as comfortable as he can.”

While observing Ramadan, Brown has also been challenged with a bone bruise with posterior impingement in his right knee. The injury caused him to miss three consecutive games. The four-time NBA All-Star returned to action with nine points, two rebounds and one steal in 26 minutes against the Kings. Brown and the Celtics return to action tonight at Phoenix (10 p.m. ET, ESPN), perhaps without Tatum who suffered an ankle injury on Monday.

With 10 regular-season games remaining, Brown believed it was important to get back to action to begin revving up for the postseason.

“I’ve been battling injury for the last couple of weeks, so I’m just trying to build my confidence up with my body to be able to go be compete when it matters the most,” Brown said. “So, [Monday] was a good step. [It] was my first day back after being out for a little bit and I’m looking forward to just taking more steps.”

Brown has averaged more than 20 points per game in each month from October through February. Brown, however, is averaging 17.7 points per game in March. But the dip in his usual monthly averages appears to be injury related and not due to Ramadan.

Mazzulla doesn’t believe Brown’s play has been affected by Ramadan.

“He does a great job of not letting anything get in the way of competing at a high level. He is not that kind of guy,” Mazzulla said. “Especially after doing it for six years, it can’t be easy. I have a lot of respect for the fact that he does it.”

Brown is the not only a key member of the 2024 NBA champions but also the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. About 10 days after winning the title, Brown, former Celtics teammate Tacko Fall and others visited Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in July 2024 to perform the Hajj, a pilgrimage to the Kaaba. Mecca is considered the holiest site in Islam and a central pillar of Islamic faith. Brown also said he visited Medina, Saudi Arabia, known as the second holiest city in Islam, last offseason.

“Everybody just in unison praying together, that was the most beautiful thing.” Brown said. “Everybody’s here to strengthen their connection to the most-high. Everybody’s walking around the architecture as well. I would probably say the architecture was the most beautiful in Medina as well. Medina felt great. I was instantly kind of happy when I got to Medina.”

Ramadan will end on Sunday at sundown for Brown with the Celtics on the road in Memphis for a game on Monday. He is looking forward to the arrival of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration meaning “the Festival of Breaking the Fast” that follows Ramadan.

“It’s been a great month. I’m looking forward to [Eid al-Fitr],” Brown said. “I think I’m going to send out some gifts to some friends and family to celebrate the fast. It’s a great time of the year.”