Jaylen Brown is at a loss for words for how last season ended.
The Celtics star guard is still thinking about his team’s Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Knicks this May, with Jayson Tatum tearing his Achilles in Game 4 of the six-game defeat, forcing him out for at least a large part of this coming year too.
“Last year, we won the championship. Duck boats, champagne … this year, we gotta listen to insufferable Knicks fans,” Brown said.
“I don’t know how we lost in general…”
Knicks fans went wild in May when they upset the Celtics to advance to their first conference finals in 25 years, with the festivities including burning opposing players’ jerseys after the series concluded.
Still, Brown might want to get used to the Knicks fans being “insufferable” at least for the 2025-26 season, as Tatum is expected to miss most of this upcoming season with the devastating injury while the Knicks project to be one of the top teams in the East.
Jaylen Brown discusses his frustration with the Knicks fans. X, @CeltsGlobe
Jaylen Brown on the highs and lows of the NBA:
“Last year we won the championship. Duckboats, champagne… this year we gotta listen to insufferable Knicks fans. I don’t know how we lost in general…”
— CelticsGlobe (@celtsglobe) October 16, 2025
Tatum’s achilles injury isn’t the only thing that the Celtics can blame for their exit last season, as the Celtics were mostly healthy for that playoff series and trailing in Game 4 when Tatum went down en route to the Knicks grabbing a 3-1 series lead.
The Celtics were forced to completely overhaul their roster amidst the Tatum injury, as they don’t expect to compete for a title this season.
Knicks fans are a rambunctious group. James Keivom
Josh Hart waves goodbye to the Celtics after knocking them out of the playoffs. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
The brain trust in Boston decided to trade multiple pieces from the 2024 title team, including guard Jrue Holiday and forward Kristaps Porzingis, and they also allowed Al Horford and Luke Kornet to depart via free agency.
The Celtics went an impressive 64-18 last season, but their Over/Under win total projection is set at just 41.5 as Boston looks to retool its roster for future seasons.
They did acquire Chris Boucher and Anfernee Simons during the offseason.
Brown figures to take on an expanded role this season when the Celtics tip off their season on Oct. 22 against the 76ers, while the Knicks face the Cavaliers.