The Boston Celtics’ 2024-25 season came to an end on Friday night.
With Jayson Tatum out of the Celtics’ lineup due to a career-altering Achilles injury, Boston would have been lucky to force a Game 7 vs the New York Knicks.
The Knicks prevented that from happening by dismantling the Tatum-less Celtics 119-81 in Game 6 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
Jaylen Brown, Boston’s No. 2 scoring option, who’s recently been involved in trade rumors, discussed his future with the Celtics after the blowout loss.
“I don’t make any excuses,” Brown said to the media. “Obviously, it’s tough the way we went out tonight, but personally, the way I finished the year, preserving through some physical stuff that I was battling through, I’m proud of our group.”
“I thought that we fought, we were in a lot of battles, and it’s a lot to be excited for. This journey is not the end for me, I’m looking forward to coming back stronger, so you just take this with the chin up.”
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“It (Boston) looks gloomy right now, obviously, with JT (Jayson Tatum) being out and us kind of ending the year, but there’s a lot to look forward to, and I want the city to feel excited about that, this is not the end, so, I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
Although Brown had his down moments in the postseason and must continue to strengthen his left-handed dribbling in half-court and transition situations, he was a high-level playoff contributor for the Celtics.
The California product averaged 22.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game in 10 contests, shooting 44.6% from the field and 33.3% from three-point land.
Unfortunately for Brown, his contract—a five-year, $285 million deal signed in 2023—makes him a prime cost-cutting asset in free agency.
Brown should hope that Boston prioritizes parting with Jrue Holiday and/or Kristaps Porzingis over him this summer.
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