The summer of Jaylen Brown: Celtics star comments on Team USA, Banner 18, and more

LAS VEGAS — It’s been quite the summer for Jaylen Brown. Dating back to the end of May, it seems as though every trophy imaginable has ended up in his hands. From the Larry Bird Eastern Conference finals MVP to the NBA Bill Russell Finals MVP to the Larry O’Brien to an ESPY for best championship performance. Everything has been coming up Brown.

And while he’s still enjoying every championship second possible, that bliss can only last so long.

“Definitely still riding the high,” Brown said at the Boston Celtics’ Summer League game against the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s been a great summer. That feeling of finally getting over that hump is great. But now, it’s kind of coming to an end. It’s like everybody’s starting back at ground zero. So, it’s almost forgotten about, and now, we just got to build from Day 1 again.”

Earlier in the summer, Jayson Tatum spoke about the weight of winning a title being off his shoulders. That feeling is shared by his co-star, but again, next season is fully in sight.

“Yes, I do,” Brown said when asked if he felt the same. “But right when that burden gets alleviated, you get more motivation to follow it. So, for me, it’s back to ground one. My mindset is almost like, championship is over now, and now we got to get back to work.”

Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their first championship in 16 years in June, but now, 18 has come and gone. Banner 19 is the new goal. And everything Boston has done this summer has set themselves up for said quest.

Tatum and Derrick White both inked lucrative extensions that will keep them wearing green for years to come, and Jrue Holiday got his new deal done right before the 2024 playoffs. Brown and Kristaps Porzingis signed extensions last offseason, and Horford is still riding out a new contract he signed in December of 2022.

But Boston’s commitment to keeping their core intact goes well beyond the top six.

The Celtics re-signed Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman to new contracts this summer. They also brought back JD Davison and Drew Peterson on new two-way contracts. In total, 15 of the 17 players who ended last year with Boston will be back again next season.

Brown said the rest of his summer will be spent reaching out to teammates, working out, and preparing to run it back next season.

“Yeah, just continue to work. Just check in with the guys and see what their schedules are, their availabilities are,” Brown said. “I’ve already talked to Al [Horford] and talked to some of the guys to see when they’ll get back in the gym. I think next I’ll probably be at Payton [Pritchard]’s wedding.

“But just continue to do what we [have] always been doing, build a great culture, great energy, great chemistry amongst our group. We got a special amount of guys, and we’re running it back this year. So looking forward to it.”

However, as Brown stuffed his trophy case, one honor was not granted to him—a spot on the 2024 Team USA Olympic team.

When Kawhi Leonard was removed from the roster, White, Brown’s very own Celtics teammate, was named as the replacement.

Immediately, Brown tweeted out emojis that hinted at his displeasure with being left off the team. Some speculated that he could be throwing shade at White, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“I wasn’t surprised, but my reaction was [that] I was happy for D-White,” Brown said of the snub. “It’s dope to have so [many] of our guys on there. So, I was happy for those guys, but I wasn’t surprised.”

In fact, Brown made sure to reach out to White after the announcement was made.

“Absolutely. I called Derrick right away,” he said. “Just to make sure there’s no confusion with my love for [him] and all of that. He knew that. And he did. But you know, you don’t always got to make anything public. But me and D-White are good.”

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

But while he may be happy for his teammates, as Tatum and Holiday are also on the team, Brown is using the lack of inclusion as fuel.

“Absolutely. Super fired up,” Brown said. “I got all the motivation in the world. I’m boutta improve, so I loved it. Honestly.”

Along with his initial reaction, subtweeting the decision to leave him off, Brown also sent a message directed at Nike, whom he felt had a hand in his exclusion.

“I do, for sure. There will be more stuff to come with that,” Brown said on if he felt as though Nike was involved in the decision. “But as of now, I’m not going to comment on it.”

Led by Brown, Boston ended last season on a high. Confetti lined the streets from Causeway to Hynes Convention Center. But they’re hungry for more.

And as the New York Knicks, with a Mikal Bridges trade, and Philadelphia 76ers, with the signing of Paul George, are loading up to contest them in the East, Brown and the Celtics are ready for the challenge.

“Absolutely. A lot of teams are getting better, and it takes a lot to be able to put the ribbon on top and win the championship,” Brown said. “So, we just got to take it one game at a time. There’s no guarantees. There’s no promises. So, I’m excited to start the process, and the process kind of starts now. Get back to work. Put that chip back on your shoulder. That same motivation you had before.

“You connect with your guys. You try to build great chemistry and great energy, and it takes sacrifice again for the next year, and I’m excited to be a part of that. Always have been, always will be a team guy. And that’s where I put my foot first.”