Jaylen Brown’s claim that the 2025-26 season was his “favorite season” drew backlash after Boston blew a 3-1 first-round lead against the Philadelphia 76ers. Former NBA guard J. R. Smith defended Brown, arguing the adversity and growth inside the locker room j
Jaylen Brown’s “favorite season” remark landed like a bruise right on the timeline.
The Boston Celtics star made the comment during a Twitch stream shortly after Boston’s season ended. then doubled down when criticism followed. It was the kind of statement that. for a team that blew a 3-1 first-round series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers. sounded tone-deaf to many fans. Yet J. R. Smith stepped in with a defense that didn’t argue the collapse away—it framed Brown’s meaning around what happened along the way.
Brown explained his view came from the adversity the Celtics faced and the personal growth he saw in real time inside the locker room. “You got to see all of these guys, all of my teammates, grow,” Brown said. “I got to see them overcome adversity as a group. up close and personal.” He acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the playoff collapse. but insisted the journey itself carried meaning beyond the ending.
Smith wasn’t buying the idea that championships and personal fulfillment always have to sit in the same conversation. In discussing the reaction online. the former Cavaliers guard pointed to Brown’s leadership role and the turbulence around the team—especially with Jayson Tatum missing significant time because of injuries.
“I’m saying I think for the circumstances that he was in and being able to stand up to the moment and excel, I think that right there is enough for him to be like, damn, this sh*t was really… pic.twitter.com/iK2HXgChn6
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) May 21, 2026
“I’m saying I think for the circumstances that he was in and being able to stand up to the moment and excel,” Smith said. “I think that right there is enough for him to be like, damn, this sh*t was really dope.”
Fans, though, had plenty of reasons to be skeptical. Boston’s collapse against Philadelphia is widely viewed as one of the franchise’s most disappointing exits in recent memory. And for many supporters, the surprise was sharpened by context: the Celtics won Banner 18 just one year earlier.
The tension in Brown’s message. then. isn’t whether he understands what happened—it’s that he refuses to let the ending erase what he believed he and his teammates built through the season. Smith’s defense leans directly into that point. insisting that under the circumstances Brown stood up. excelled. and saw growth that still felt worth labeling as the best chapter of his year—irrespective of how it ended.
Jaylen Brown J. R. Smith Celtics 76ers 2025-26 season Twitch stream Jayson Tatum injuries Banner 18 NBA playoffs