Two years before he was named MVP of the 2024 NBA Finals, Jaylen Brown experienced the pain of losing in a championship round.
During a recent broadcast on his Twitch stream, Brown offered a message of support for Patriots quarterback Drake Maye following the Patriots’ Super Bowl loss.
“He’s 23 years old. He had a great season,” Brown said. “He has a lot of potential in front of him, even though the Super Bowl was probably a performance that he didn’t feel great about, in a sense. I’ve been there. I’ve been to the Finals and lost. I know what that feels like. I know what that summer feels like.”
“I remember I got sick physically, we lost in the Finals to the Warriors and I was so sick that I got sick. It’s true. I really got sick. I didn’t leave.”
The Celtics were up two games to one against the Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals before Golden State won three straight and claimed the series. On Sunday in Santa Clara, the Patriots lost the Super Bowl 29-13 to the Seattle Seahawks.
“You put your blood, sweat, and tears into everything, into this game,” Brown said. “When you come up short, it can feel like someone just took your heart out of your chest.”
Brown joked that Stephen Curry broke his heart during that series. He said the 2023 loss to the Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals the following year was also very painful.
“It was so devastating that my spirit was breaking,” Brown said. “It was like I was ready to give up and can see a bunch of basketball players as talented as all get out but you can tell their spirit is broken. They’re talented but they’re just out there going through the motions. They don’t play with no passion, no spirit, no energy, none of that. You can see it.”
Brown said the loss motivated him to reach a new level in his career. During the 2024 NBA Finals, the Celtics beat the Mavericks in five games. Brown was named MVP of both the NBA Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals.
“In order to turn this hurt into no longer hurt, I had to turn it into fuel,” Brown said. “So, I turned all that hurt. The biggest heartbreak of my life was losing to the Miami Heat after we came back down from 3-0. In the midst of that, the team needed me. That’s why it hurt so bad. It wasn’t the fact that we lost, it was the fact that [Jayson Tatum] went down and the team looked at me and said we need you right now.”
The harder he tried during that Game 7 against Miami, the more he failed. It was like sinking into quicksand. He finished with a career-high eight turnovers.
He said the experience taught him a lot, including how not to put extra pressure on himself in those situations.
“If anything, take a deep breath, just breathe, say some affirmations, tell yourself you’ve got this and just keep moving forward,” Brown said. “I got it. I believe in myself. I am who I say I am. I believe in myself. God, I submit to your will, whatever you need to say, say it breathe positive things and then go forward.”
Brown said he is confident that Maye will be OK.
“Hell of a year. You’ll be alright. You had a great season, you’ll be back. Don’t let the hurt turn into something that can break your spirit. Go the other way. Turn all that hurt into fuel and I’ll promise you you’ll be better for it.
“Level up. Come back even better. Could have been an MVP year, should have been an MVP year for Drake Maye, I stand on that. Come back even better and prove your doubters wrong. Don’t even worry about the doubters, prove it to yourself.
“Get a harp. That’s the best thing I can tell you. The peace of mind is everything. For me, it was a harp. That was one of the best investments for me. It might be something else for you.”
https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2026/02/11/jaylen-brown-drake-maye-advice-patriots-loss-super-bowl-lx/