had a statement game on Thursday after not being voted to any of the All-NBA teams. Despite averaging 23 points per game on near career-best shooting for the NBA's best team, Brown did not make All-NBA, just one year after making the All-NBA Second Team in 2022-23. He also didn't make the All-Defensive Team.
Brown responded by dropping 40 points on 14-of-27 shooting to power the to a 126-110 Game 2 win over the . The Celtics now lead the series 2-0 as it shifts back to Indiana for Games 3 and 4. Brown looked in command throughout Game 2, bruising his way to the rim against a Pacers defense that was ill-equipped to stop him.
When Brown didn't lower his head and get in the paint, he sank timely, tough contested jumpers from all angles. Brown's offense was key on a night when shot 9-of-20 from the field for 23 points. After the game, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked if he thought the All-NBA snub would motivate Brown.
Mazzulla gave a detailed response, saying Brown will be motivated by not making the team — but only to a certain extent, because it's not Brown's main focus. "I think he cares about it in a way that motivates him, and I think he doesn't really care about it at all, because understands that it's not— winning is the most important thing. He has an innate ability to just get better, work hard, motivation.
He has unreal confidence. But he's also not afraid to work on things he knows he has to get better at." - Joe Mazzulla "You see him every day at shootar.