Jaylen Brown Goes Off On The Haters, Says He's Embraced Being The Villain

In the aftermath of a series-clinching win over the Cavaliers this week, Celtics star Jaylen Brown spoke up against all the critics who have doubted his game. In a chat with Jay King of The Athletic, he explained his newfound approach to the haters and his acceptance of being a villain among the fans.

“Whatever you do is going to be scrutinized, or no matter how good you are, it's never going to be enough or bring any praise or any media attention,” said Brown, via The Athletic. “It's tough, but at the same time, it is what it is. You've gotta embrace that villain. And as I'm getting older I'm starting to embrace it more. Embracing not giving a f*** whether they see or don't see, whether they appreciate it or don't appreciate it. I'm focused on helping my team, helping my family, helping the city and I go from there.”

It's clear that Jaylen Brown is intent on shutting out the doubters and he's on track to prove everyone wrong this season. With most of the experts and fans picking the Nuggets as the favorites, the Celtics have an opportunity to show everyone who they are and prove once and for all that they are ready to win at the highest level.

As Eastern Conference finalists for the sixth time in the past eight years, the Celtics have demonstrated a level of consistency and dominance that is rarely seen for a team so young. Jaylen Brown, along with his co-star Jayson Tatum, have led the way from the very beginning and their ascension has made the Cs a consistent and steady presence in the championship picture.

Even so, without a championship run to claim, the Tatum and Brown era can only be classified as a disappointment right now and the critics will never stop until they finally finish the job and bring the Larry O'Brien trophy back to their city.

Celtics And Nuggets Are On A Collision Course

After the trades for Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday this past summer, the Celtics successfully re-tooled their roster and many felt that it was enough to make them the favorites in the East.

On the court, the new-look Celtics were dominant together and finished the season with a 14-game lead for the first seed and a final record of 64-18 (the best in the NBA). Jayson Tatum, while still somewhat mixed as a superstar, has done more than enough to carry his team even amid rough shooting stretches at times.

Meanwhile, in the West, the Nuggets are looking like a new team after going down 2-0 to the Timberwolves. Their response in Game 3 was nothing short of spectacular and Nikola Jokic has been impossible to stop ever since.

As it stands, the Nuggets pose arguably the biggest threat to the Celtics and they are headed for a hard-fought battle in the NBA Finals this year. To have any chance against the defending champions, the Celtics will need to play smarter and move like a team that's got years of playoff experience.

Regardless of how it plays out, Jaylen Brown and his teammates will not be hearing the noise but you can bet the revenge will be sweet if they ever end up winning it all and marking their place in Celtics history.