Jaylen Brown, Payton Pritchard refuse to let early exit stain surprising season

TL;DR

The Boston Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by the Philadelphia 76ers, despite a surprising season. Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard expressed pride in their team's growth and resilience throughout the year.

Key points

Celtics eliminated in first round by 76ers
Jaylen Brown proud of teammates' growth
Payton Pritchard highlights positive season despite loss
Team faced challenges without Jayson Tatum
Offseason decisions could shape future roster

Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersJaylen BrownPayton Pritchard

BOSTON — The Boston Celtics came into the 2025-26 NBA season with minimal expectations. However, win by win, they built those expectations back up again and turned into a contender, even without star forward Jayson Tatum healthy for the majority of the regular season. When the playoffs arrived, the Celtics were once again competing for a championship, and nothing less, but they disappointed in the first round and were eliminated in Game 7 on Saturday night by the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. So, how do the Celtics begin to rationalize the 109-100 loss and their historic collapse against a hated rival? While some fans might claim it was a fruitless season, especially since Green Teamers are always dreaming of championships, that's not how the players viewed it.

Jaylen Brown provides a eulogy for the Celtics season:

“Great season…Each and every one of (my teammates) I've watched develop get better and step up in big moments to help us win games.”

“Tonight, we came up a little bit short fourth quarter. We had some great looks that I… pic.twitter.com/f6ZJPEnwmU

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) May 3, 2026 "It was a great season," Celtics star Jaylen Brown said. "I'm proud of my teammates and just their growth from guys (who are) coming from different organizations, or guys who hadn't really played a lot who stepped up big in these playoffs and stepped up big in a regular season and helped us get to the position that we're at. That's what it's about. I'm so grateful to be with this group." Brown could have entered the press room in a sour mood after getting eliminated. He scored a team-high 33 points yet 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 emotional, he was far from discouraged. "This group was awesome," Brown said. "I had a fun year. This is probably one of my most fun years playing basketball. It didn't always go — it wasn't always perfect. It wasn't always analytically, aesthetically pleasing. We won a lot of basketball games, and people could see the grit and the fight that we played with every single night. Tonight was an example of that." Jaylen Brown reiterates that this season was still one of his “most fun” in the NBA:

“This group was awesome…People could see the grit we played with.” pic.twitter.com/y2K5BP0Zui

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) May 3, 2026 Prior to the season, the Celtics could have decided to tank. Maybe they gun for a lottery pick instead of trying for a championship without Tatum healthy. Brown never went for that, though, as he always dreamed of leading a team of his own. He accomplished that and had a career year while doing so. Many of his inexperienced teammates, ranging 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 had a lot of growth this year," Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard said in the locker room. "That's a positive. Just because you don't win a championship one year doesn't mean it didn't build for the next championship." Payton Pritchard on how the Celtics previous playoff exits led to a title in 2024, how they’ve grown this season, and how he’s processing the defeat overall:

Q&A

What did Jaylen Brown say about the Celtics' season after their playoff exit?

Jaylen Brown described the season as great, highlighting the growth of his teammates and expressing pride in their accomplishments despite the disappointing playoff loss.

How did the Celtics perform in the 2025-26 NBA season?

The Celtics exceeded expectations, becoming contenders even without star Jayson Tatum for most of the regular season, but were eliminated in Game 7 of the first round.

What were Payton Pritchard's thoughts on the Celtics' playoff performance?

Payton Pritchard emphasized the positive growth of the team and suggested that past disappointments could lead to future championships.

What challenges did the Celtics face during the playoffs?

The Celtics faced significant challenges, including injuries to key players like Jayson Tatum, and ultimately lost to the seventh-seeded Philadelphia 76ers in a tightly contested Game 7.