Jaylen Brown remains coy about his Celtics future

All-Star and NBA Finalist, Jaylen Brown thought he was going to pack his bags. It was last summer, when Kevin Durant wanted to leave the Nets, and Brad Stevens had made no secret that he had discussed with his counterparts in Brooklyn. But he also explained that he was in constant contact with his players to prevent them from thinking too much.

” It is also necessary to be able to communicate frankly and transparently with the people concerned. We had very open conversations from the start with each of our guys. “he confided at the time, while the Nets wanted Jaylen Brown, but also Marcus Smart.

In the end, Brad Stevens did not give in, but Jaylen Brown remembers this period. “Kevin and Jayson are friends, they used to train together…” he reminds The Ringer. “I had no certainty about the energy that was released. I wasn’t sure what direction the franchise wanted to take. »

To reassure himself, Jaylen Brown organized a three-way call with Brad Stevens and Jayson Tatum, and the Celtics president had assured him that he would not leave. A promise kept, and as announced by Grant Williams, Jaylen Brown is having a great season to the point of being a serious candidate for a place in an All-NBA Team.

Jaylen Brown can hit the max with the Celtics

A selection that could change his way of considering the next “free agency”. Free agent in 2024, he could take advantage of this possible selection to sign the biggest contract possible this summer. Only the Celtics can offer him the maximum … but leaves the door open to him to leave.

“I don’t know… As long as I’m needed… It’s not up to me…” does he think. “We’ll see what they think of me over time and what I think of them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where they want me. Where I’m needed and where I’m treated right. »

In fact, Jaylen Brown prefers to enjoy the present moment playing with Jayson Tatum and this group rather than planning for the medium and long term.

“I just appreciate the times that we are currently living. If it’s to play there all my career, then it will be for all my career. If it doesn’t, it won’t… Some of the greatest players didn’t end their careers in the same franchise. Michael Jordan has retired from the Wizards. Even if we feel good here and like living here, we will see where life takes us. We see how the process evolves. All we can do, frankly, is focus on what’s in front of us. But I really don’t know and I don’t want to answer that question because that kind of stuff makes Celtics fans speculate and they go crazy. For the moment, I will simply say that we will see that when the time comes. »

No promise therefore, because Jaylen Brown probably remembers that of Kyrie Irving, finally not kept. Especially since the full-back/winger seems, like the leader, having a problem with some Celtic fans…
“It’s not all the Celtics fans, but there is a part of the fans that is problematic. If you make a bad match, they relate it to your personality. I really think there’s a small part of Celtic Nation that is extremely toxic and doesn’t want to see athletes use their platform, just wants us to play basketball and entertain them and come home. This is a problem for me”.