Jaylen Brown addressed the media following the Boston Celtics’ 127-102 Game 5 win over the New York Knicks, offering an unwavering message of resilience in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s season-ending Achilles injury.
Speaking candidly postgame, Brown said, “I know it’s easy to kind of write things off… but we still got basketball to be played. I believe in this group. So, you know, don’t count us out just yet.”
With Tatum sidelined, much of the attention shifted toward Brown’s response and leadership. Asked about the Celtics’ mindset following the initial shock, he emphasized a clear focal point: “Defense. That’s all I’m talking about is defense… guard your yard.”
Brown, who tallied 26 points and 12 assists in the win, also credited center Luke Kornet’s unexpected impact off the bench, calling his performance “stellar” on both ends. “That’s the type of performances we need in the playoffs,” Brown said, highlighting Kornet’s energy and rim protection.
The Celtics forward also revealed he and veteran Al Horford gathered the team ahead of the game to reset their approach. “We didn’t want to go out like that. We didn’t want to make no excuses,” Brown said. “We just said… be ready to go and guard your ass off.”
Reflecting on past playoff experiences, including a Game 7 loss against Miami where Tatum was also injured, Brown noted personal growth in how he now handles such adversity. “Continue to be aggressive. Continue to trust in my game and my development,” he said.
With the franchise now looking to him as the lead figure moving forward, Brown remained steady in his identity. “Just be who I am. Be myself… and get it done in multiple ways,” he said, while reaffirming his team-first mindset.
Brown also discussed his defensive approach on Jalen Brunson, who fouled out late in the fourth quarter. “JB’s tough… but my goal was just to stay between him and the basket,” Brown said, adding, “I feel like I can guard with the best of them.”
As the Celtics prepare for Game 6 in New York, Brown stressed the importance of patience and poise down the stretch. “Just making the right reads, over and over again,” he said of a key assist to Jrue Holiday in the fourth quarter. “We played with pace and was able to find guys on open shots.”
Boston now trails 3-2 in the series and faces another elimination test Friday at Madison Square Garden.
