Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics were upset 109-100 during Saturday’s do-or-die Game 7 home clash against the Philadelphia 76ers, capping off a stunning first-round collapse.
A day after the second-seeded Celtics’ early playoff exit, Brown ruffled feathers with a candid reflection on his team’s season.
Jaylen Brown Faces Backlash for Dubbing 2025-26 Season ‘Favorite Year’ of His NBA Career
Brown took his game to new heights in the 2025-26 campaign, serving as the Celtics’ No. 1 option during Jayson Tatum’s Achilles rehab before readjusting to his co-star’s late-season return.
Brown averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game across 71 regular-season appearances as Boston improbably finished 56-26 after entering the season facing questions about its playoff chances.
Unfortunately for the Celtics, between 76ers star center Joel Embiid’s mid-series return from an early April appendectomy, Tatum suffering a left knee injury in Game 6, and their overreliance on 3-pointers, they blew a 3-1 series lead.
Brown led the way for Boston with 33 points in Game 7 as his squad mounted a furious comeback from an 18-point second-half deficit despite three of its starters going scoreless. However, the five-time All-Star couldn’t close the deal, as he missed multiple clean looks down the stretch with the score within one possession.
While Brown remained vocal about his frustration with Saturday’s officiating, he also took a more reflective tone during a Sunday Twitch stream, praising the Celtics’ season-long resiliency.
“Man, this group was a special group,” Brown began. “I’m so proud of this group and the way we played. I wish we trusted that style of play a little bit more, but I know the playoffs kind of shifted our rotations and what we wanted to do. But I’m so proud. It was my favorite year of my basketball career.”
“It was my favorite year of my basketball career”
– Jaylen Brown
(h/t @rileysbetter ) pic.twitter.com/bancNJPrkQ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) May 4, 2026
Brown’s “favorite year” comment came despite Boston being just two years removed from its 2024 championship run, prompting many across the NBA landscape to question the 29-year-old’s judgment.
“Blowing a 3-1 lead in the 1st round is better than winning the championship and Finals MVP??” Boston sports X account Boston Diehards asked.
Blowing a 3-1 lead in the 1st round is better than winning the championship and finals MVP?? https://t.co/OUBCw2wqF0
— Boston Diehards (@Boston_Diehards) May 4, 2026
“Saying this after you just blew a 3-1 lead in the first round is certainly a choice,” parody account @lockedupjb remarked.
Saying this after you just blew a 3-1 lead in the first round is certainly a choice https://t.co/WGPLXNO4OO
— jb (@lockedupjb) May 4, 2026
“Dude, you just won a championship, a Finals MVP, and an ECF MVP 23 months ago,” Tatum fan account JT Muse pointed out.
Dude, you just won a championship, a Finals MVP, and an ECF MVP 23 months ago. https://t.co/Z3KYcHCuKo
— JT Muse (@TatumMuse) May 4, 2026
Meanwhile, others began accusing Brown of embracing a me-first mindset.
“Had a hell of a regular season proving the doubters wrong (me included), and he should absolutely be proud of that. However, saying this was your favorite ‘year’ a day after blowing a 3-1 lead to Philly is nothing but inexcusable and selfish. Read the damn room,” Boston fan account @CelticsAdam34 reacted.
Had a hell of a regular season proving the doubters wrong (me included) and he should absolutely be proud of that.
However, saying this was your favorite “year” a day after blowing a 3-1 lead to Philly is nothing but inexcusable and selfish. Read the damn room. https://t.co/niY88T96yd
— Adam☘️ (@CelticsAdam34) May 4, 2026
“Liking regular-season clout because he was the #1 this year over winning a literal NBA championship. Sad,” another X user wrote.
Liking regular season clout because he was the #1 this year over winning a literal NBA championship.
— Wizely 🫥🌙 (@Wizelycook) May 4, 2026
“He’s never lied about what he valued most. This doesn’t actually shock me much,” NBA writer Josh Eberley asserted.
He’s never lied about what he valued most. This doesn’t actually shock me much. https://t.co/xSipDpivD6
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) May 4, 2026
Brown’s divisive assessment of the Celtics’ first-round exit will likely only fuel offseason trade rumors as the franchise gauges his and Tatum’s long-term fit after nine years as teammates.
