Celts
Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics finally reached the summit, winning the team's long-awaited 18th championship title in June.
But don't expect Brown and the remaining of Boston's roster to rest on their laurels because the 2024-25 season begins.
Although Brown and the Celtics have lost just three playoff games amid a dominant title run, they plan to operate with a brief memory as they appear to defend their title within the 2024-25 season.
“The last year is over, to be honest,” Brown told Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area“We celebrated, we had a good time, it was a great summer – I had a great summer, by the way – but now it's over and now it's back to work.”
Brown had an eventful summer, even after being named NBA Finals MVP following Boston's victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Since earning his spot as an NBA champion, the 27-year-old swingman has been snubbed by the U.S. team on the 2024 Summer Olympics – and the previous All-NBA Second Team talent also didn't get a spot on the roster after Kawhi Leonard was sidelined attributable to injury.
Brown was omitted as his Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White (who secured the ultimate spot on the U.S. team after Leonard's injury) won gold in Paris.
But Brown has already began ramping things up ahead of the beginning of coaching camp in October. when posting photos of themselves lifting weights underwater as a part of his training program.
“Mister… [Brown] is underwater with a dumbbell in one hand and a basketball in the other…. [expletive] could be over for everyone,” Celtics star Kevin Garnett posted on X. Sunday afternoon.
Although no NBA team has defended its title since the Golden State Warriors (2017-2018), Boston's chances are good in the 2024-25 season, especially since the team is bringing back almost the same roster as last season.
Add in the extra motivation this summer from Brown's absence from the U.S. national team and Tatum's limited appearances during the Olympics, and the Celtics appear primed for the challenges that await them next season.
“Now we’ve got the goal on our backs,” Brown told Poole. “Everyone is attempting to overtake us and I say, 'Come on.' So it's back to work and I'm looking forward to next season.”
image credit : www.boston.com