NBC Sports Boston's coverage of Celtics-76ers starts at 6:30pm Wednesday with Celtics Pregame Live, and then Mike & Scal have the call of the game at 7:30pm.
BOSTON — The day after signing a four-year extension worth up to $115 million, Jaylen Brown went through an extended post-practice workout, engaging in various shooting and ball-handling drills before the Celtics' media relations staff wrestled him out of the weight room to chat with reporters before the team’s afternoon flight to Philadelphia.
Brown said he celebrated his new deal by taking a nap Monday while his phone was perpetually buzzing with messages of congratulations. When he woke up, Brown returned to Boston’s practice facility to get up additional shots.
“I just treated it like a normal day,” said Brown.
Eventually, Brown relented a bit on the magnitude of the deal, why it was an easy decision to stay in Boston, and noted the big payday isn’t quite a load off his mind given the goals he has set for himself and the team.
A handful of highlights from Brown’s nine-minute meeting with reporters:
Boston Celtics
The new deal doesn’t change his approach to the new season
"I don’t look at it [as a load off]. I still got the same mentality, same approach, same preparation for the season. And I still got the same goals. So the load is still on until I get that job done, because that’s what it’s more about — getting a contract extension is great, but I’m playing to try to win and try to help this team as much as I can.”
Brown knows he could have potentially earned more money this summer
"There’s always chances. I was hearing a lot of good stuff. And that was a possibility. Being in this market, playing for the Boston Celtics is not like playing for a lot of other teams, to be honest. Once it came down to something that made sense, it was an easy decision, to be honest. Playing for the Boston Celtics isn’t like playing for some of these other teams in the league. No disrespect. Boston is a top-5 organization in this league so I think that was a possibility. Once I got to look at the offer in front of me, it was easy.”
Brown worried that last season could have driven down his value
"If I were to be honest, for sure. Especially in the role I was in last year, I don’t feel like I got to display my talent. I think I have the ability and the talent next to anybody else. But last year I didn’t get to display it, so I thought that was really going to hurt me and it came out, everything worked out in the end. … My mantra is faith, consistency and hard work pays off, even though things didn’t go my way [last] year. I just kept working and made the best of my situation regardless of what happened, and it worked out.”
The deal confirmed for Brown that the team is behind him
"For me, it was great. It shows that the front office believes in me. I got a text from [team co-owners Steve Pagliuca] and Wyc [Grousbeck], saying they’re excited about the future. As a player, that’s what you want: The organization to be behind you. I was definitely excited for that and excited for this season.”
Forsberg & Blakely's playoff predictions for 2019-20>>>>>
Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.