Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics stormed into the postseason with an impressive 61-21 record in the regular season, showing dominance on both ends of the floor and defeating the Orlando Magic (4-1) in the first round. With momentum and championship pedigree, fans and analysts alike expected Boston to return to the Finals.
But the second round against the New York Knicks turned into a nightmare. The Knicks played with grit, physicality, and relentless energy—eventually wearing the Celtics down and sending them home in six games. Brown has revealed his feelings about the elimination.
Jaylen Brown’s Raw Feelings About Celtics’ Elimination
After the Celtics’ Game 6 loss against the Knicks, in a raw and emotional postgame interview, Brown summed up the pain of the moment with a haunting statement.
“Losing to the Knicks feels like death, but I was always taught that there’s life after death, so we’ll get ready for whatever’s next. Whatever’s next in the journey, I’ll be ready for,” said Brown during the interview.
“Losing to the Knicks feels like death. But I was taught that there’s life after death. So we’ll get ready for whatever’s next.”
Jaylen Brown on losing to the Knicks as they look to bounce back in the offseason 🗣️
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— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) May 17, 2025
Game 6, played on May 16, was a disaster for Boston from the very beginning. Despite briefly taking a one-point lead midway through the first quarter, that was the only time the Celtics led in the entire game. The Knicks quickly regained control and ended the first quarter with a six-point lead. From there, things only got worse.
By halftime, the Knicks had blown the game wide open, leading by a staggering 27 points. The Celtics never recovered, and what followed was one of their most lopsided playoff losses in recent memory.
Brown did all he could to keep Boston’s season alive. He put up a solid individual performance, scoring 20 points and grabbing six rebounds. But without enough support from his teammates and with the Knicks executing flawlessly, Brown’s effort wasn’t nearly enough as he fouled out near the end of the third quarter.
Now with the season officially over, questions loom about what comes next for Boston. But one thing is certain: Brown’s powerful words have given fans a glimpse into just how much this team—and this season—meant to him.
Brown Talks About Jayson Tatum’s Injury
The Celtics had to push through their last two matchups without their franchise star, Jayson Tatum, after he went down late in Game 4 with a serious Achilles tendon injury. His absence has loomed large ever since.
During the same post-game interview, Brown acknowledged how much the team missed Tatum’s presence on both ends of the floor and also noted that the team would regroup in the offseason and explore how to better prepare for adversity.
“Finishing in May feels weird. It’s definitely not something we were prepared for. Obviously, Jayson, his injury, etc. I’m sure there’s a lot to process, just as everything like this whole year…. It’s hard processing it all right now in real time… But I’m happy that our group stayed together,” said Brown during the interview.
“It was an honor to share the locker room with a lot of these guys… It hurt to see the emotions of all the guys being a leader and not being able to carry everybody to the promised land. It sucks, but it just wasn’t our year.”
But it wasn’t just Tatum who was hindered. Kristaps Porzingis also dealt with lingering effects of an upper-respiratory illness, causing him to miss second halves in two separate games.
This summer, the Celtics must turn their focus toward building a roster that’s not only talented but also durable and playoff ready.