Celtics' Jaylen Brown Doesn't Give 'a F--k,' Embraces 'Villain' Role and Rips Critics | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
As the Boston Celtics head to their third straight Eastern Conference Finals, Jaylen Brown knows the spotlight—and criticism—will only grow larger.
He says he's ready for the moment.
"Whatever you do is going to be scrutinized — or no matter how good you are, it's never going to be enough or (bring) any praise or any media attention," Brown told Jay King of The Athletic. "It's tough, but at the same time it is what it is. You've gotta embrace that villain. And as I'm getting older I'm starting to embrace it more. Embracing not giving a f--k whether they see (his value) or don't see it, whether they appreciate it or don't appreciate it. I'm focused on helping my team, helping my family, helping the city and I go from there."
The Celtics will make their sixth conference finals appearance of Brown's career once the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers series is settled. They are 0-5 in their previous attempts, including a seven-game loss last season to a No. 8 seed Miami Heat team.
Brown finished with 19 points on 8-of-23 shooting and had eight turnovers in that Game 7 loss, and he scored under 20 points in three of the Celtics' four losses in the series. Those struggles led to criticism of Brown's seeming stagnation in his development, with some wondering whether he's capable of being the 1B option on a title contender.
The Celtics shared none of those concerns, inking Brown to the richest contract in NBA history and instead retooling the roster around Brown and Jayson Tatum. It's impossible to argue with the results, as Boston finished the regular season an NBA-best 64-18 and breezed through the first two rounds of the playoffs.
Brown says the failures of the past have prepared these new-look Celtics to finally get over the hump.
"It almost makes you stoic a little bit," Brown said. "I feel like I've adopted that over the last years. And I'm embracing it even more: Just be a robot. Just come out here and do what you've gotta do. And that's it."
