Jan. 27, 2026, 9:13 p.m. ET
NBA players will take whatever they can find when it comes to motivation on the court, and star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown is no different. So when the Georgia native heard that not only fans of opposing ball clubs were expecting the Celtics to have a bad year in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, but league analysts and even Boston fans as well – he took it personal.
Former teammate Jrue Holiday saw that dynamic coming from a mile away, and spoke about it via CLNS Media before the start of the tilt between his new team, the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Celtics on Monday (Jan. 26). “Knowing Jaylen, I feel like he takes a lot of things personally,” said Holiday. “He doesn’t accept a lot, especially when it comes to being bad.”
The Georgia native seemed to agree postgame, saying “I take everything personally. I’m always looking for something.”
“I feel like I’ve sacrificed over the years in order for us to be a championship-caliber team,” he added. “I think we’re getting to see what exactly I was capable of and what I was sacrificing.”
“I think before maybe it wasn’t so obvious. I think now, I think being able to be at the helm of things, and us being the No. 2 seed in the East, versus last year where we finished as the No. 2 seed in the East, it’s almost been no drop-off with four or five players essentially gone.”
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“The work from the coaching staff, the work from our leadership has been great, I’ve just tried to make myself available every night,” said Brown.
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