Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown made a special appearance in Los Angeles on Monday, though it wasn`t for basketball. His visit was for the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame star dedication ceremony for science icon Bill Nye.
Nye`s star was unveiled as a tribute to his extensive career as a popular science educator. He gained widespread recognition as the host of the 1990s television program “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” a show that, despite concluding its syndication run by the end of the decade, continued to inspire students in classrooms across the nation for many years.
Among the numerous individuals whose scientific curiosity was ignited by Nye was the current Celtics star himself.
During Monday`s ceremony, Brown highlighted Nye`s profound impact on his personal interest in science, as well as on an entire generation of students.
“My passion for science runs deep, and I owe that to Bill,” Brown stated. “This isn`t just about me, but about a generation of students in public schools who might have otherwise felt that education wasn`t for them.”
Nye`s innovative shows were crafted to make scientific learning engaging and accessible to young audiences, a point Brown also emphasized in his address.
“When they wheeled that TV into the classroom on a trolley,” Brown recalled, “we all knew it was time for science.”
The collaboration between Brown and Nye is not unprecedented. Last November, Brown publicly expressed his desire to meet the acclaimed television host on social media. Less than a month later, they connected in the arena tunnel following a Celtics-Washington Wizards game. Furthermore, Nye participated in the launch event for Brown`s “White Noise” sneakers in Boston this past February.
Brown`s scientific endeavors have consistently complemented his professional basketball career. In 2019, he was honored as a Media Lab Director`s Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, among other notable academic pursuits.
Jaylen Brown and the Celtics are set to commence their 2025 regular season on October 22, facing off against the Philadelphia 76ers.
