After the Boston Celtics lost Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Miami Heat at home, NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown was asked to talk about his future.
The forward is eligible to sign a designated veteran extension with the Celtics this summer.
“I expected to win today and move on,” Brown said. “That’s what my focus was on and that’s what my focus has been on. We failed. I failed. It’s hard to think about anything else right now, to be honest. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
Brown has one year left on his contract. He will make $28.5 million next season and hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2024 if the Celtics don’t sign him to an extension.
“All I know is that we had an opportunity and we came up short,” Brown said. “We fought hard to get back into this series and had a game on our home floor and we came up short. That’s all I can really gather from the situation right now.”
Brown struggled in Game 7 versus the Heat. The two-time All-Star had eight turnovers and shot only 8-of-23 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.
“We failed,” Brown said. “I failed. We let the whole city down. … It’s been a hell of a year. Those guys in that locker room are warriors, resilient. It’s been an honor to share the locker room with a lot of those guys. Despite whatever circumstance that we’ve had this year, we’ve rose to the occasion. We got to this point and we came up short.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Jaylen Brown & Boston Celtics Updates
Brown averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists during the regular season. Superstar Jayson Tatum said after Game 7 that it’s very important for Brown to be back with the Celtics next season.
“It’s extremely important,” Tatum said. “He’s one of the best players in this league. He plays both ends of the ball and still is relatively young. And he’s accomplished a lot so far in his career. So I think it’s extremely important.”
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