BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS — A freshly-shaved Jaylen Brown sat on the podium, grinning from ear to ear, prepared to handle a swarm of reporters for his Celtics Media Day availability.
The primary query he obtained was about getting snubbed from the U.S. Olympic staff — a narrative that’s been well-chronicled and punctuated by teammate Derrick White getting the decision in his place.
“God rattling, query no 1?” Brown stated, breaking into laughter. “Can’t I get to warm-up slightly?”
There was a reality to Brown’s joking exasperation — after a summer season spent celebrating the very best honor in basketball, the very first thing anybody wished to know was concerning the one factor he didn’t accomplish.
However, his laughter additionally revealed one thing totally different: the sting that Brown usually carries on the podium had softened, at the least for the day.
He smiled, and answered the query as supposed.
“I’m able to go. I’m enthusiastic about being again,” he stated. “The previous is the previous, however I’m able to get after it, lead our guys, construct some staff chemistry, not skip any steps, and simply set the tone for an additional yr once more. I’m extraordinarily motivated for apparent causes, and I’m able to get after it.”
It’s not the primary time Jaylen Brown has been requested concerning the Olympic snub heard all over the world — addressing reporters in Summer time League in July, he dispelled any notion that there was a difficulty between him and White, whereas additionally acknowledging that being left off the roster fired him up, and that he felt that the shoe firm Nike had a hand within the resolution.
Now, few months eliminated and seated on the Auerbach Middle podium, Brown appeared extra at peace, even noting that watching his Celtics teammates within the Olympics was one of many highlights of his summer season.
When he was requested about his response to Wyc Grousbeck promoting the staff because the Celtics’ most veteran participant, Brown once more quipped: That’s identical to a approach to name any person outdated” earlier than in the end saying he merely hoped for a clean transition, including that he appreciated the connection with the present possession group.
Jaylen Brown, who very not often breaks character in pressers, had jokes.
Later, in an interview with NBC Sports activities Boston, he threw a jab at one of many NBA groups that’s occupied the opposite aspect of the win column.
“An evening we taking part in — don’t imply to disrespect them however — the Detroit Pistons who’ve struggled during the last yr or two, we gonna play by Payton, let him go for 30,” Brown stated. “Play by Sam, let him shoot 10 threes tonight. We gonna nonetheless win the sport.”
So, why the brand new, playful demeanor?
“I don’t need to state the plain, however we received a championship,” he stated with a smile, describing the highly-anticipated expertise as “bliss.”
“This summer season, my coronary heart wasn’t damaged.”
After securing the Jap Convention Finals MVP, Finals MVP, and Larry O’Brien trophy, the summer season of a lifetime ensued for the three-time All-Star. There was an ESPY award, a rap track, and a new shoe line. There have been well-documented world travels that included Spain, Brazil, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia.
I’m having an excellent summer season not gone lie
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) August 22, 2024
And, there was additionally the philanthropic offseason work, which Brown named the summer season’s spotlight. His 7uice Basis launched a partnership with Jrue Vacation in Boston, and Jason Kidd in Oakland, each geared toward offering grants to underrepresented entrepreneurs, as a part of his pursuit Black Wall Road.
“Having the ability to do one thing with J-Kidd, , we simply competed within the NBA Finals,” Brown stated. “For him to place that to the aspect and have the ability to nonetheless put neighborhood first — I feel that was fairly superior.”
I requested Jaylen Brown about his summer season of highlights, and he named his work with Boston and Oakland XChange.
“Having the ability to do one thing with Jason Kidd — we simply competed within the NBA Finals. For him to place that apart and have the ability to put neighborhood first was fairly a giant some.” pic.twitter.com/z1vNvunH6n
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) September 24, 2024
And, not one of the aspect conquests bought in the best way of the principle factor, Brown made positive to notice.
“I say this yearly, however that is the perfect that I’ve ever felt and the toughest that I’ve ever labored,” Brown stated. “Within the midst of touring, I’ve been in a position to steadiness that with actually getting after it.”
As a result of, as relaxed as he might have appeared, Jaylen Brown and the remainder of the Celtics made one factor clear at Media Day: they’re not glad with only a singular championship.
“It was by no means nearly attempting to win only one,” stated Jayson Tatum.
Like Brown, Tatum started his presser fielding questions on his personal Olympic controversy — specifically, a pair of DNPs that dominated the nationwide media all summer season. And, like Brown, he made clear that regardless of every part he and the Celtics achieved final yr, he wasn’t glad.
(For Tatum, the jam-packed summer season included an NBA2K cowl, turning into an writer, starring in a Netflix documentary, and touchdown on the cowl of Sports activities Illustrated, amongst different accolades).
“All the fellows I seemed as much as rising up received at the least one championship,” Tatum stated matter-of-factly. “Now, it’s only a dialog of, how nice are you attempting to be? What room or what tier are you attempting to be talked about in when it’s all stated and carried out? And understanding the window you need to maximize that point.”
As they give the impression of being to pursue a second title, there seems to be little concern a few letdown for the defending champions (although don’t name it that to Joe Mazzulla’s face).
“We simply bought a stellar group of fellows that simply have nice mentalities. So I don’t assume it will be as laborious to keep up that consistency,” Brown stated. “We simply bought to ensure that we proceed to emphasizing holding one another accountable. Hopefully, we keep wholesome for the big a part of the yr, however I’m excited. We bought an excellent group of fellows, an excellent staff chemistry, nice locker room, so we simply bought to take it someday at a time and see the place we go from there. Nevertheless it’s been an honor being round a few of these guys for X quantity of years. So I’m wanting ahead to this journey due to the fellows I get to share the locker room with.”
Mazzulla made clear that in his eyes, nothing was totally different about starting the season as reigning champions.
“Zero. Feels zero distinction,” Mazzulla stated. “And I feel for those who’re ever fortunate to do it once more, when it does really feel totally different, that’s what I’d moderately not do it anymore.”
Brown echoed that sentiment: the coin might have flipped, however the mentality was the identical. And, above all, a second NBA title was entrance of thoughts.
“Final yr, earlier than we misplaced, it was just like the lowest of low for me. I felt prefer it was my accountability once we misplaced in Recreation 7 and fell quick. Now, it’s like we received, and it’s the identical form of deal, however simply the alternative finish of the spectrum, proper?
“However it sort of feels the identical if you take a look at it in hindsight. As a result of you may go in some way in each of these instructions. Whenever you’re on the backside, you may go in some way. Whenever you’re on the prime, you may preserve going or you may go down. It sort of feels like, actually oddly sufficient, the identical. So, I’m excited simply to start out the journey once more. May’ve used one other couple weeks [in the offseason], however no complaints right here. I’d moderately finish each season like we did final yr. So, let’s get it going.”
