So how do the Celtics begin to rationalize their 109-100 loss and historic collapse against a hated rival? While some fans might claim it was a fruitless season, especially since the Green Teamers always dream of championships, the players didn’t see it that way.
“It was a great season,” Celtics star Jaylen Brown said. “I’m proud of my teammates and their growth from guys who come from different organizations, or guys who haven’t really played much and who took a big step forward in these playoffs and took a big step forward in a regular season and helped us get to the position we’re in. That’s what it’s all about. I’m very grateful to be with this group.”Advertisement
Brown could have entered the press room in a bad mood after being eliminated. He scored a team-high 33 points but missed his last 4 shots in a tight one-possession game that the Celtics could have won. And while the five-time All-Star still seemed excited, he was far from discouraged.
“This group was amazing,” Brown said. “I had a fun year. This is probably one of my most fun years playing basketball. It wasn’t always right, it wasn’t always perfect. It wasn’t always analytically and aesthetically pleasing. We won a lot of basketball games and people could see the grit and fight we played with every night. Tonight was an example of that.”
Before the season, the Celtics could have decided to go under. Maybe they’ll look for a lottery pick instead of trying for a championship without a healthy Tatum. However, Brown never accepted that, as he always dreamed of leading his own team.
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He made it and had a career year while doing it. Many of his inexperienced teammates, from Celtics wing Jordan Walsh to reserve-turned-starting center Neemias Queta, also had the best seasons of their professional lives.
“I thought a lot of people grew up a lot this year,” Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard said in the locker room. “That’s positive. Just because you don’t win a championship one year doesn’t mean you’re not prepared for the next championship.”
Overall, pride, positivity and growth is what key members of the Celtics took away from an amazing season. The front office can use him as a building block and continue to center the roster around Brown and Tatum, who is still recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered last May and sat out Saturday due to tightness in his left knee.
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But just because the Celtics aren’t publicly mourning the loss doesn’t mean they’re not aware of the opportunities they blew in Game 7.
“We left it all out there,” Brown said. “We played five little guys, we played a rookie, we played whatever, and we fought until the end. We were just missing a couple of plays.”
Now begins the offseason, in which the Celtics can sit still or overtax to attract new talent. No matter how team officials approach it, the players won’t forget the bittersweet season.
“It was a pleasure,” Brown said of the 2025-26 campaign. “Every single one of those guys I’ve seen develop, improve and step up in big moments and help us win games. Tonight, we came up a little short. In the fourth quarter, we had some big outings that I wish had happened, but nothing to worry about. Nothing that our team can hang our head over.”
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard remain proud of Celtics despite first-round exit.