Jaylen Brown feels confident about the Boston Celtics repeating as NBA champions. In an interview with NBC Sports Boston, Brown said “Last year is over… Everybody’s trying to come after us and I’m like, ‘Come on.'” During their 2023-24 championship run, Jaylen Brown was monumental. He was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP in the Celtics sweep over the Indiana Pacers, and the Finals MVP when the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks 4-1. Now, as an NBA champion, Brown and the Celtics have a target on their backs, but he is embracing the challenge.
Jaylen Brown Proving Doubters Wrong
Jaylen Brown is no stranger to adversity, so this quote is unsurprising. Coming out of the 2022-23 season, Jaylen Brown was heavily criticized. The Celtics were eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals, a series the Celtics were expected to win. Jaylen Brown did not play well in the series, turning the ball over and shooting inefficiently. In game 7, when Jayson Tatum went out with an ankle injury, Brown shot 8-of-23 from the field with 8 turnovers.
In the offseason, when it was time for the Celtics to give Jaylen Brown a contract extension, many were against it. But the Celtics put their foot down, not only extending Brown’s contract but making him one of the highest-paid men in basketball. The contract was five years, $304 million. Many saw this as an overpay, but Jaylen Brown proved these people wrong with his performance.
In the 2023-24 playoffs, Brown averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He also shot 51.6% from the field, a career-high in the playoffs. The best games and moments from Jaylen Brown came in the final two series. In the Eastern Conference Finals, Brown scored 26, 40, 24, and 29, all shooting 50% or greater. In game 1, Jaylen Brown buried a contested corner three to tie the game and force overtime, where the Celtics went on to win. These performances won him the Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
In the Finals, Brown’s elite play continued. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in the series. He was also one of the players responsible for defending Luka Doncic and had 3 steals apiece in games 1 and 2, and 2 steals in game 5. Leading the Celtics to a championship win, Brown was named Finals MVP one year after his controversial contract extension.
Celtics Look To Repeat
No NBA team has won back-to-back championships since the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. Over the next six seasons, the NBA has seen six different champions. The Celtics brought back many of their key players, giving Derrick White and Sam Hauser contract extensions. But other teams will be gunning for their spot on the top of the mountain.
The New York Knicks extended Jalen Brunson and added Mikal Bridges. The Dallas Mavericks added Klay Thompson. The Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George. Then, there are teams like the Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Minnesota Timberwolves, who can all compete for a championship.
So, while the Celtics still have the same championship core, many factors prevent a repeat. Firstly, health and injury luck. Kristaps Porzingis was injured for most of the Celtics playoff run, and while they still won it all, they may not get as lucky if it happens again. Secondly, many other contenders made strong offseason additions. The teams got better and are hungry to take down the defending champions.
Final Thoughts
The Boston Celtics going back-to-back will not be easy, but Jaylen Brown has laid down the gauntlet. Brown has proven the doubters wrong before and has shown he can play with a chip on his shoulder. We will see if this mentality leads to more success for the Celtics, or if another contender steps up.
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