The summer season of Jaylen Brown: Celtics star feedback on Crew USA, Banner 18, and extra

LAS VEGAS — It’s been fairly the summer season for Jaylen Brown. Courting again to the top of Could, it appears as if each trophy possible has ended up in his fingers. 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. All the pieces has been developing Brown.

And whereas he’s nonetheless having fun with each championship second potential, that bliss can solely final so lengthy.

“Positively nonetheless using the excessive,” Brown stated on the Boston Celtics’ Summer time League recreation towards the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s been a fantastic summer season. That feeling of lastly getting over that hump is nice. However now, it’s form of coming to an finish. It’s like all people’s beginning again at floor zero. So, it’s virtually forgotten about, and now, we simply bought to construct from Day 1 once more.”

Earlier in the summertime, Jayson Tatum spoke concerning the weight of profitable a title being off his shoulders. That feeling is shared by his co-star, however once more, subsequent season is totally 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 sort of like, championship is over now, and now we bought 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 aim. And every part Boston has executed this summer season has set themselves up for stated quest.

Tatum and Derrick White each inked profitable extensions that may maintain them sporting inexperienced for years to come back, and Jrue Vacation bought his new deal executed proper earlier than the 2024 playoffs. Brown and Kristaps Porzingis signed extensions final offseason, and Horford remains to be using out a brand new contract he signed in December of 2022.

However Boston’s dedication to maintaining their core intact goes properly past the highest six.

The Celtics re-signed Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman to new contracts this summer season. In addition they introduced again JD Davison and Drew Peterson on new two-way contracts. In whole, 15 of the 17 gamers who ended final yr with Boston will probably be again once more subsequent season.

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

Brown stated the remainder of his summer season will probably be spent reaching out to teammates, understanding, and making ready to run it again subsequent season.

“Yeah, simply proceed to work. Simply verify in with the fellows and see what their schedules are, their availabilities are,” Brown stated. “I’ve already talked to Al [Horford] and talked to a few of the guys to see once they’ll get again within the fitness center. I believe subsequent I’ll most likely be at Payton [Pritchard]’s wedding ceremony.

“However simply proceed to do what we [have] all the time been doing, construct a fantastic tradition, nice vitality, nice chemistry amongst our group. We bought a particular quantity of men, and we’re operating it again this yr. So trying ahead to it.”

Nonetheless, as Brown stuffed his trophy case, one honor was not granted to him—a spot on the 2024 Crew USA Olympic staff.

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 staff. 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 pleased 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 pleased for these guys, however I wasn’t stunned.”

Actually, Brown made positive to achieve out to White after the announcement was made.

“Completely. I known as Derrick straight away,” he stated. “Simply to ensure 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 all the time bought to make something public. However me and D-White are good.”

Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

However whereas he could also be pleased for his teammates, as Tatum and Vacation are additionally on the staff, Brown is utilizing the shortage of inclusion as gas.

“Completely. Tremendous fired up,” Brown stated. “I bought all of the motivation on this planet. I’m boutta enhance, so I beloved it. Truthfully.”

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 probably be extra stuff to come back with that,” Brown stated on if he felt as if Nike was concerned within the resolution. “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. A whole lot of groups are getting higher, and it takes rather a lot to have the ability to put the ribbon on high and win the championship,” Brown stated. “So, we simply bought to take it one recreation at a time. There’s no ensures. There’s no guarantees. So, I’m excited to begin the method, and the method form of begins now. Get again to work. Put that chip again in your shoulder. That very same motivation you had earlier than.

“You join along with your guys. You attempt to construct nice chemistry and nice vitality, and it takes sacrifice once more for the following yr, and I’m excited to be part of that. All the time have been, all the time will probably be a staff man. And that’s the place I put my foot first.”