Outside of a few Team USA gold medalists, the Boston Celtics got a much-needed rest this summer after their NBA Championship run this past season. Even the guys who played in the Olympics are likely enjoying their downtime now that their time with Team USA is over.
For the entire summer, the Celtics were slandered, picked apart, and pitted against each other. From Jayson Tatum getting benched on Team USA to Derrick White making the squad over Jaylen Brown. Now, the entire team will come back together in about a month to fight toward the same goal.
Jaylen Brown wants Celtics the rest of the NBA to make the Celtics their target: 'Come on'
During a recent chat with NBC Sports Boston, Brown sent a message to the rest of the league.
The NBA has put a target on the back of the Celtics, but Brown doesn’t care. He’s more than ready to welcome the challenge of the upcoming season. He wants the league to target Boston. (H/t Preston Byers of ClutchPoints)
"Last year is over, to be honest," Brown said. "We celebrated, we had a good time. It’s been an awesome summer. I’ve been having a great summer, by the way. But it’s over with. And now, it’s back to work. Now, we got the target on our back. Everybody's trying to come after us, and I'm like, 'Come on.' So, it’s back to work, and I’m looking forward to next season."
"Now we got the target on our back. Everybody's trying to come after us and I'm like, "'come on'."
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) August 20, 2024
JB locked in already 🔒
Via @NBCSAuthentic
Check out the full interview here: https://t.co/wfEKgNJ1ED 🎧 pic.twitter.com/YoDbfOSZOV
Throughout the course of the summer, a lot of teams have added pieces in hopes of competing with the Celtics, particularly in the Eastern Conference. The New York Knicks traded for Mikal Bridges, and the Philadelphia 76ers signed Paul George. Even some teams out West are looking to take a jump.
As the reigning champions, the Celtics are naturally the team everyone is chasing. They have the rings on their fingers, and everyone else around the league wants to get one.
But if they want to get to where the Celtics are, they need to go through the Celtics. (metaphorically speaking, at the very least). So, as next season gets underway, it’s effectively everyone against Boston.
Luckily, that’s how Brown likes it, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. And he’ll be sure to get the rest of the team ready for that mindset, too.