Boston Celtics
“If it was as much as me, I’d play in Boston for the subsequent 10 years. I’ll say it once more: I hate that Brad even had to answer this.”
For the second time this week, Celtics star Jaylen Brown took to Twitch to talk on a wide range of matters — together with a latest report signaling his potential discontent with the Celtics group forward of a probably busy offseason.
Many Celtics followers had been alarmed when NBA Corridor of Famer Tracy McGrady famous on a latest podcast that there may be indicators of stress between Brown and the one NBA crew he’s ever performed for.
“I feel his frustration lies deeply inside the group and different issues that we don’t have the small print to,” McGrady said. “There’s simply been loads of stuff that I’ve been listening to occurring with the Boston group with J.B.”
McGrady’s feedback even led to a query posed towards Brad Stevens through the Celtics president of basketball operations’ end-of-year press convention on Wednesday about his relationship with Brown at this stage of his profession.
Amid these experiences — coupled with extra headlines drummed up by Brown’s recent comments about flopping, NBA officiating, and extra — Brown tried to clear the air and add some context to his remarks throughout Wednesday’s Twitch stream.
“First issues first, lotta stuff swirling across the Celtics and our group,” Brown mentioned. “Hate that our president of basketball operations even had to answer this. Me and Brad have a fantastic relationship. I really like Boston. If it was as much as me, I’d play in Boston for the subsequent 10 years. I’ll say it once more: I hate that Brad even had to answer this.”
Stevens, for his half, echoed an identical sentiment throughout Wednesday’s press convention on the Auerbach Middle.
Whereas Brown’s shut relationship with McGrady added additional weight to the previous NBA star’s cryptic feedback, Stevens careworn that he hasn’t heard something relating to a souring relationship with Brown.
“I talked to Jaylen on Monday actual rapidly and it was nothing however constructive,” Stevens said. “He has not expressed these frustrations to me. We’ve been right here ten years collectively.”
“Clearly I really like J.B., all people round right here loves J.B. Similar to any of our different guys as we get to the top of the common season, I’ll be right here and my door is at all times open and if anyone ever desires to return in and discuss in regards to the crew, their place, no matter, I’m all ears.”
Past pushing again towards McGrady’s feedback, Brown additionally discussed his $50,000 fine — doled out by the NBA after criticizing NBA officers for having an “agenda” towards him this season. He additionally referred to as out Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid for flopping throughout Philly’s first-round collection towards Boston.
Brown’s feedback drew loads of criticism from Stephen A. Smith, Draymond Green, Kendrick Perkins, and others — particularly given the timing after Embiid and the Sixers erased a 3-1 collection deficit en path to ending Boston’s season in seven video games.
“I feel in the end Embiid was our demise,” Brown mentioned on Wednesday. “I feel that’s a majority of the explanation why we haven’t progressed to the second spherical. So like I mentioned, I give my credit score to the Philadelphia 76ers. I give my credit score to Joel Embiid — I feel he’s a fantastic participant. … I nonetheless assume Embiid flopped fully an excessive amount of, however that’s simply my private opinion.
“Talking of flopping … I received fined $50,000 yesterday mainly for streaming and speaking in regards to the inconsistency of the officers. Any time you handle something official-related, you’re on account of probably get fined. And I received 50K, and I’d get fined one other 50k after I say what I gotta say.”
Brown additionally doubled down on his earlier feedback that the 2025-26 season — regardless of coming to an finish within the first spherical — was his “favourite” season thus far in his NBA profession.
Contemplating that Brown and the Celtics gained a title in 2024, Brown’s feedback drew some criticism — particularly given Boston’s early exit and the optics of the Celtics enjoying many of the season with out Jayson Tatum as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
However Brown mentioned that the primary motive why he held this previous season in such excessive regard was due to the expansion of Boston’s full roster.
“I imply, we blew a 3-1 lead, and yeah — we misplaced within the first spherical. We didn’t win a championship. However the quantity of development, the expectations that these similar [critics] have for us, is why this was my favourite 12 months, as a result of I received to see it in apply. … The expectations had been for this crew was to fail. The expectations was the crew [would] be nothing, simply to present in to and to give up. And this crew did the precise reverse. We fought each single day. We fought for every little thing.
“I received to see Jayson Tatum come again from an harm, mentally overcome what [it] takes … this is part of the explanation why this was my favourite 12 months. You bought to see all of those guys, all of my teammates, develop. I received to see them overcome adversity as a bunch, up shut and private. And though we didn’t accomplish what we achieved, no excuse.
“ I’m not making no excuses. Clearly, the consequence — we’re not happy with the consequence. . … However to struggle and maneuver by way of adversity and develop and provoke with a bunch of fellows and have that mindset and strategy, this was my favourite 12 months. I wouldn’t say by far. By far can be a stretch, as a result of clearly, profitable the championship is nice, however I’m telling y’all, this was my favourite season.”
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