Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics couldn't have asked for a worse ending to their 2024-25 NBA season.
On Friday night, Brown and the Celtics suffered one of their worst losses of the season, falling to the New York Knicks 119-81 in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden.
Now, Boston's run at potential back-to-back championships comes to a close, but that may be the least of their worries going forward. Superstar Jayson Tatum underwent surgery for a torn Achilles he suffered in Game 4, ending his playoffs and putting next year in jeopardy.
The Celtics may also have to part ways with Kristaps Porzingis or Jrue Holiday over the Summer, given their current salary situation, sitting roughly $107 million over the cap in 2025-26, per Spotrac.
However, Tatum isn’t the only star facing challenges as the offseason begins in Boston. Following the loss, Brown addressed the media in a postgame interview and revealed he’s been dealing with “some stuff” throughout the season.
"Personally, I had some stuff that I was persevering through," Brown said.
Brown also recognizes that many Boston fans view next season with uncertainty. Still, even with Tatum sidelined, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP remains confident about what lies ahead.
"This journey's not the end. It's not the end for me," Brown added. "You just take this with a chin up... it looks gloomy right now with JT being out... but there's a lot to look forward to... I want the city to feel excited... This is not the end."
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown
Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Brown finished the game with a team-high 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting, six rebounds, six assists and seven turnovers. He also fouled out late in the third quarter, when the game was already way out of hand.
The Celtics will now look to the next season, where many are expecting their roster to look completely different. And, for the first time in his career, Brown is likely to be the No. 1 option for Boston with Tatum recovering from his Achilles injury.