LAS VEGAS — It’s been fairly the summer season for Jaylen Brown. Courting again to the top of Might, it appears as if each trophy conceivable has ended up in his arms. From the Larry Hen Japanese Convention finals MVP to the NBA Invoice Russell Finals MVP to the Larry O’Brien to an ESPY for greatest championship efficiency. The whole lot has been developing Brown.
And whereas he’s nonetheless having fun with each championship second doable, that bliss can solely final so lengthy.
“Positively nonetheless using the excessive,” Brown stated on the Boston Celtics’ Summer season League sport towards the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s been a terrific summer season. That feeling of lastly getting over that hump is nice. However now, it’s type of coming to an finish. It’s like all people’s beginning again at floor zero. So, it’s nearly forgotten about, and now, we simply received to construct from Day 1 once more.”
Earlier in the summertime, Jayson Tatum spoke in regards to the weight of profitable a title being off his shoulders. That feeling is shared by his co-star, however once more, subsequent season is absolutely in sight.
“Sure, I do,” Brown stated when requested if he felt the identical. “However proper when that burden will get alleviated, you get extra motivation to observe it. So, for me, it’s again to floor one. My mindset is nearly like, championship is over now, and now we received to get again to work.”
Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their first championship in 16 years in June, however now, 18 has come and gone. Banner 19 is the brand new objective. And all the pieces Boston has performed this summer season has set themselves up for stated quest.
Tatum and Derrick White each inked profitable extensions that may hold them carrying inexperienced for years to come back, and Jrue Vacation received his new deal performed proper earlier than the 2024 playoffs. Brown and Kristaps Porzingis signed extensions final offseason, and Horford continues to be using out a brand new contract he signed in December of 2022.
However Boston’s dedication to holding their core intact goes effectively past the highest six.
The Celtics re-signed Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman to new contracts this summer season. Additionally they introduced again JD Davison and Drew Peterson on new two-way contracts. In complete, 15 of the 17 gamers who ended final 12 months with Boston will likely be again once more subsequent season.
Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Brown stated the remainder of his summer season will likely be spent reaching out to teammates, understanding, and making ready to run it again subsequent season.
“Yeah, simply proceed to work. Simply test in with the blokes and see what their schedules are, their availabilities are,” Brown stated. “I’ve already talked to Al [Horford] and talked to among the guys to see after they’ll get again within the gymnasium. I believe subsequent I’ll in all probability be at Payton [Pritchard]’s marriage ceremony.
“However simply proceed to do what we [have] at all times been doing, construct a terrific tradition, nice power, nice chemistry amongst our group. We received a particular quantity of fellows, and we’re operating it again this 12 months. So trying ahead to it.”
Nonetheless, as Brown stuffed his trophy case, one honor was not granted to him—a spot on the 2024 Workforce USA Olympic group.
When Kawhi Leonard was faraway from the roster, White, Brown’s very personal Celtics teammate, was named because the substitute.
Instantly, Brown tweeted out emojis that hinted at his displeasure with being left off the group. Some speculated that he might be throwing shade at White, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.
“I wasn’t stunned, however my response was [that] I was joyful for D-White,” Brown stated of the snub. “It’s dope to have so [many] of our guys on there. So, I used to be joyful for these guys, however I wasn’t stunned.”
The truth is, Brown made positive to succeed in out to White after the announcement was made.
“Completely. I known as Derrick instantly,” he stated. “Simply to verify there’s no confusion with my love for [him] and all of that. He knew that. And he did. However you recognize, you don’t at all times received to make something public. However me and D-White are good.”
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Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE through Getty Photographs
However whereas he could also be joyful for his teammates, as Tatum and Vacation are additionally on the group, Brown is utilizing the dearth of inclusion as gasoline.
“Completely. Tremendous fired up,” Brown stated. “I received all of the motivation on this planet. I’m boutta enhance, so I cherished it. Actually.”
Alongside along with his preliminary response, subtweeting the choice to depart him off, Brown additionally despatched a message directed at Nike, whom he felt had a hand in his exclusion.
“I do, for positive. There will likely be extra stuff to come back with that,” Brown stated on if he felt as if Nike was concerned within the determination. “However as of now, I’m not going to touch upon it.”
Led by Brown, Boston ended final season on a excessive. Confetti lined the streets from Causeway to Hynes Conference Middle. However they’re hungry for extra.
And because the New York Knicks, with a Mikal Bridges commerce, and Philadelphia 76ers, with the signing of Paul George, are loading as much as contest them within the East, Brown and the Celtics are prepared for the problem.
“Completely. Loads of groups are getting higher, and it takes loads to have the ability to put the ribbon on high and win the championship,” Brown stated. “So, we simply received to take it one sport at a time. There’s no ensures. There’s no guarantees. So, I’m excited to start out the method, and the method type of begins now. Get again to work. Put that chip again in your shoulder. That very same motivation you had earlier than.
“You join together with your guys. You attempt to construct nice chemistry and nice power, and it takes sacrifice once more for the following 12 months, and I’m excited to be part of that. All the time have been, at all times will likely be a group man. And that’s the place I put my foot first.”
