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As the Boston Celtics and All-Star Jaylen Brown roll on this season, Brown's interviews in the The Ringer and the New York Times have drawn a spotlight. Brown, who has been the subject of trade speculation in his seven seasons with the organization, was noncommittal about his future in Boston and discussed facing racism from some Celtics fans.
Brown's situation is being closely monitored by other NBA teams, including the Atlanta Hawks.
"As long as I’m needed. It’s not up to me," Jaylen Brown said in Logan Murdock's article in The Ringer. "We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct."
With Jaylen Brown becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2024, the assumption is that a player of his caliber will receive the super max extension to continue playing alongside Jayson Tatum and the Celtics. However, Brown said this when it comes to playing alongside his fellow All-Star in Tatum:
"I just enjoy the time that you have now. If it’s your whole career, it’s your whole career. If it’s not, it’s not. Some of the greatest players of all time haven’t finished with their organization. Michael Jordan retired a Wizard. As much as we like it here and enjoy being here, you see where life takes you. You see how the process goes.
"All you do is really focus on what’s in front of you right now, to be honest. But I don’t really know or want to answer that question because that type of stuff makes Celtics fans speculate and go crazy. Especially right now, I’ll just say we’ll get there when we get there."
The Celtics (50-23) are coming off a 4-2 road trip, which they concluded Tuesday by topping the Sacramento Kings 132-109. In that game, Brown dropped 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.
Boston is preparing for another deep playoff run hoping to get back to the NBA Finals after losing there to the Golden State Warriors last season.
In regards to the adversity he experiences from some in the fanbase, Jaylen Brown said in a New York Times article by Sopan Deb:
"I pretty much block it all out. It’s not the whole Celtic fan base, but it is a part of the fan base that exists within the Celtic Nation that is problematic. If you have a bad game, they tie it to your personal character.
"I definitely think there’s a group or an amount within the Celtic Nation that is extremely toxic and does not want to see athletes use their platform, or they just want you to play basketball and entertain and go home. And that’s a problem to me."
However, after reactions from the media and the fanbase, Brown said this after Tuesday's win in Sacramento:
"I feel great. On a 50-win team right now, which you can't take for granted. Tonight was the (Celtics') 50th win. And right now I'm focused on helping lead my team for another playoff run. In terms of speculation, et cetera, I can't speculate on anything above what I'm doing right now.
"I think sometimes when people write articles, they get taken out of context at times, especially when writers have their own agendas or whatever. So, for me personally, I'm thinking about clarifying some of the things that have been recently said. But other than that, I'm just focused on my team.
"I'm focused on playing basketball and focused on winning games."
Atlanta Hawks keeping tabs on Jaylen Brown's situation with the Celtics
In an article by Sean Deveney, an NBA insider for Heavy Sports, an NBA executive said:
"One reason the Hawks are trying to unload (John) Collins is to get that cap space and be in position to add someone, another star, with Trae (Young). It is not easy to get free agents to Atlanta, but Jaylen Brown would be different — they want to be in position, at least, to make a move if he wants to be there.
"I think there is nouquestion they are watching the situation with him. Closely."
The destination makes sense in Brown's situation as he grew up in Atlanta and has even been active in the community. The pairing of Jaylen Brown alongside Trae Young and Dejounte Murray would also be an interesting lineup for the Hawks, who are also trying to bolster their roster with the goal of an NBA championship.
When the articles in The Ringer and the New York Times were published, Brown and the Celtics were in a slump, at 2-2 in their six-game road trip. But following those articles, trade rumors are starting to get attention from the media as Jaylen Brown's situation develops.
