Jaylen Brown After Celtics’ Elimination: “Losing to the Knicks Feels Like Death”

Jaylen Brown reflects on the Celtics’ crushing Game 6 loss to the Knicks. The All-Star calls the season-ending defeat painful and vows to come back stronger as Boston’s title defense ends in heartbreak.

After a season filled with championship aspirations and 61 regular-season wins, the Boston Celtics’ title defense came to a crushing end Friday night. A 119-81 blowout loss to the New York Knicks in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden sent the defending champs home — and left Jaylen Brown grappling with the sting of a season cut short.

“It Stings — As It Should”

Brown, who scored 20 points but committed seven turnovers, didn’t hide his disappointment in the postgame press conference.

“It stings — as it should,” Brown said. “Losing stings, especially finishing your season like this. But it just wasn’t our year.”

When asked to elaborate on that final sentiment, Brown pointed to the cumulative challenges Boston faced, particularly injuries, including the devastating Achilles tear that sidelined Jayson Tatum for Games 5 and 6.

“We lost tonight,” he said. “Battling through injury, we had some ups and downs… I’m proud of our guys that came out and fought. It just sucks.”

Physical Toll and Emotional Weight

Brown declined to discuss his own physical condition in detail, saying,

“Nothing to talk about right now. We’ll see… just kind of sit back and process and see what the next steps are.”

Still, the physical and emotional exhaustion was evident — especially after failing to repeat as champions.

“Losing to the Knicks feels like death,” Brown admitted. “But I was always taught there’s life after death. We’ll get ready for whatever’s next.”

The Celtics had reached the NBA Finals in two of the last three seasons and won it all in 2024, making this early May exit especially jarring.

“Finishing in May feels weird,” Brown said. “Definitely not something we were prepared for.”

Praise for Porzingis and Mazzulla

Brown took a moment to applaud Kristaps Porzingis, who fought through illness and injury in the postseason, trying to give his team a spark despite being limited.

“KP’s been a large part of our success,” Brown noted. “He wasn’t feeling his best, but we appreciate him getting out there. He helped us all year long.”

He also praised head coach Joe Mazzulla and the team’s culture, emphasizing the preparation and mindset they carried into the playoffs.

“Joe prepared us as best he could. We had a great mentality. Just had some unfortunate events.”

The Pain of a Missed Repeat

Comparing this season’s ending to previous playoff exits, Brown didn’t sugarcoat the emotions.

“It feels the same. It almost feels worse,” he admitted. “We were trying to do something special — go back-to-back. It probably stings even more.”

Despite the devastation, Brown stood tall in support of his teammates, calling the Celtics “a bunch of great selfless guys” who came to compete every day.

Looking Ahead: “This Journey Is Not the End”

While the Celtics now face a long offseason of reflection and recovery, Brown ended with a message of hope and resilience for Boston fans.

“This journey is not the end,” he said. “I know Boston — it looks gloomy right now… but there’s a lot to look forward to. And I want the city to feel excited about that.”

Jaylen Brown called the Celtics’ elimination at the hands of the Knicks “like death,” reflecting on a painful end to a once-promising season. With Jayson Tatum injured and Boston’s title defense derailed, Brown emphasized pride in the team’s effort and looked ahead to brighter days for the city.