All About Jaylen Brown’s Parents, Mechalle and Marselles Brown

Jaylen Brown thanks his parents, Mechalle and Marselles Brown, for who he is today.

A four-time NBA All-Star and a 2024 NBA champion, Jaylen has become one of the league’s most dynamic and defensively sound athletes. More importantly, his mom and dad instilled in him a deep respect for education, discipline and self-reliance, which are values that continue to define his career.

Notably, when the rising basketball star attended the University of California, Berkeley, Jaylen didn’t want to stick to easier classes that would make him eligible to play with the school’s Division I team. Instead, he challenged himself as he had been encouraged throughout his life, taking a graduate class as a freshman.

“In my family, we always talk highly about education,” he told the Boston Herald in July 2016.

Mechalle, a marketing professor with multiple degrees, emphasized the importance of learning to Jaylen and his brother Quenton. “Going to college and getting an education was the family protocol and my focus in raising my children,” Mechalle said to The Athletic in June 2020.

Meanwhile, Marselles, a former professional boxer, supported his son’s independent mindset. It was his advice that led Jaylen to forgo hiring an agent when he entered the 2016 NBA Draft, where he was the third overall pick by the Boston Celtics.

From nurturing his academic curiosity to encouraging his activism, here’s everything to know about Jaylen Brown’s parents, Mechalle and Marselles Brown.

Mechalle is an accomplished educator

For Mechalle, education is more than a priority; it’s the family business.

With a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State and an MBA from American InterContinental University, Mechalle is deeply rooted in a family of educators, doctors and lawyers. She is also an adjunct professor at Cambridge College in Boston.

Her influence is evident in Jaylen’s journey. From taking honors classes in high school to enrolling in a master’s-level course at UC Berkeley during his freshman year, Jaylen balanced his athletic career with a strong academic focus. He earned Pac-12 Freshman of the Year honors while tackling a demanding academic schedule.

“I call him the old man,” Mechalle said of Jaylen to the Boston Herald. “His focus started when he was very, very young … Homework was first, and then he’d go out in the yard and shoot.”

For Jaylen, education has always been just as important as basketball. “My mom never cared if I played basketball. She wanted me to learn as much as possible. Education is the key,” he told the outlet.

Marseilles is a champion boxer

Before Jaylen set his eyes on the NBA, his father made a name for himself in the boxing ring. At 7 feet tall with an 86-inch reach, Marselles had a long and accomplished career, racking up a 33-18-1 record with 25 knockouts.

He turned pro in 1989 and won several titles, including the 2016 World Boxing Union World Championship and the 2015 World Boxing Union C.A.M. Heavyweight title. He also served on the Hawaii State Boxing Commission Board.

In 2016, Marselles briefly unretired to inspire his sons and show them firsthand the dedication and perseverance it takes to succeed in sports.

“My main motivation for coming out of retirement was to show my kids that I never gave up on my dreams,” he said in an August 2016 interview with boxing247.com. “I didn’t want them to give up on theirs.”

Marselles continued, “I am extremely proud of both my sons. I am especially proud of Jaylen. He is an extraordinary athlete and very smart.”

They share two kids, including Jaylen

In addition to Jaylen, Mechalle and Marselles have an older son named Quenton Brown.

Although details about Mechalle and Marselles’ relationship are unclear, ESPN reported that she raised their two children as a single mom in Georgia.

Like his brother, Quenton pursued athletics, playing Division I football at the University of Central Florida and the University of North Texas.

After his time on the field, which included a stint on the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad, he transitioned into sports and entertainment management, per his LinkedIn.

He previously worked as a project manager at Universal Music Group and is currently an athlete relations coordinator at Playbooked.

Mechalle inspired Jaylen’s activism

As a UC Berkeley student, Jaylen participated in protests and worked closely with faculty on organizing efforts. He continued to amplify his voice in the NBA, including leading a lecture at Harvard on athlete activism in March 2018.

Two years later, after George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, he drove 15 hours from Boston to Atlanta for a peaceful protest against police brutality.

Jaylen’s mother instilled in him a passion for activism from an early age. Mechalle reminded him that “basketball is what you do, it is not who you are” and she encouraged him to use his growing platform for something bigger.

In a November 2020 video for The Uninterrupted, Jaylen credited her for teaching him to do his research, question inequality and take action. “Mom, you taught me to use my own experiences and to learn from things that I’ve seen,” the NBA All-Star explained.

Speaking to The Ringer in January 2023, Mechalle reacted to her son’s social consciousness, echoing the sentiment to take charge.

“Who you are is measured by the mark you leave on the world,” she said. “And to truly leave a mark on the world, you have to do the right things, and speak out against the wrong things.”

Mechalle continued, “But in order to do that, you have to use your voice. After you use your voice you have to back it up with actions.”

Marselles gave Jaylen helpful advice

Jaylen left UC Berkeley after a year to pursue pro basketball and he made headlines when he entered the 2016 NBA Draft without an agent, choosing instead to negotiate his first professional contract with assistance from the NBA Players Association. It was a decision influenced by his father’s advice.

“When my son Jaylen went from college to the NBA, I told him, ‘Don’t even get an agent. … Why do you want to get an agent and let them take [a percentage] of your money … and you don’t have a choice on what team you go to?’ ” Marselles recalled on the Dad Is Not A Noun podcast in October 2024.

He added, “My son thought I was crazy at first. I said, ‘Son, think about it. You don’t have a choice. You’re going to go into the top 10. They’re going to put you on the team.’ ”

Mechalle is in awe of what Jaylen has accomplished

When the Celtics won the 2024 NBA Championships, defeating the Dallas Mavericks 4-1, Mechalle had a pinch-me moment in the stands.

The mom of two opened up to Andscape about the “surreal” experience and reflected on what it was like seeing Jaylen fulfill his dreams after years of hard work.

“First, you see him at 9 months old chasing a ball, then he’s 27, and everything that he’s worked for and put immense effort into has come to pass,” she said. “Knowing that he wanted this so badly and that he was able to help his team and then also be able to get acknowledged.”

Mechalle continued, “There’s nothing better than to see everything come full circle. It was just an overwhelming, amazing feeling to see that.”

She also admitted that she was glad the tense weeks concluded with a win, and she was ready to celebrate with Jaylen and his team members.

“I’m very excited about the parade. I’m excited to see this in action and witness it. This is part of our family history,” Mechalle added.