BREAKING NEWS: Jaylen Brown has announce “HIS EXIT” from…

Jaylen Brown had the perfect opportunity to take over.

The Boston Celtics were at home in Game 7 against the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals back in May.

A win would get them back into the NBA Finals and give Boston a shot at its first championship since 2008.

Jayson Tatum sprained his ankle minutes into the game and hobbled his way through the contest, and it was time for Brown to show he could take over.

Instead, the heavily favored Celtics fell to the eighth-seeded Heat in embarrassing fashion, falling 103-84, as Brown committed eight turnovers and misfired on 15 of his 23 shots.

The Celtics battled their way into Game 7 after dropping the first three games of the series.

Significant favorites to win the game and head back to the championship round, the Celtics suffered a blow when Tatum rolled his ankle early in the game and was never the same. He finished with 14 points on 5-for-13 shooting.

Tatum’s injury opened the door for Brown to step up. Brown failed to capitalize.

Brown made just eight of his 23 shots and committed a game-high eight turnovers. He went 1-for-9 from 3-point land.

Brown Used Game 7 as a Learning Moment

While the pain of losing a Game 7 at home stung for some time, Brown has used it to his advantage this season.

“It just inspired growth,” he told The Athletic. “It just inspired me to work hard. I probably worked the hardest I’ve ever worked this summer.

“My body’s changed. Athletically, I feel like I’m entering my prime, at peak athleticism.

I’m running, I’m jumping, I’m defending. I’m guarding my ass off. I’m in the right spots. I’m more aware on defense. I’m more aware on offense.

It just inspired me. Inspiration to improve is what it was. That’s how bad it stung to come up short the way we did, but I wouldn’t take anything back. Everything is for a reason.”

Brown believes all the offseason hard work is paying off.

After signing the richest extension in NBA history, he believes he’s playing the best basketball of his career.

“I feel like on both sides of the ball, I’m playing the best basketball of my life,” he said.

I feel like I’m a different player. I still have the same essence. That aggressiveness is where my tone is always going to be, but I’m seeing the floor, making the right reads, trying to get others involved all at the same time.”

Brown’s numbers are down from a year ago. He’s averaging 22.2 points, down from 26.6 last year.

His assist and rebounding numbers are down, too. That could be because the Celtics brought in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday and don’t need to rely as much on Brown and Tatum this year.

The Celtics own the best record in the Eastern Conference at 15-5. Winning, not stats, is what matters most to Brown.

Former NBA players Andre Iguodala and Evan Turner took their “Point Forward” podcast to Boston recently and had a sit-down interview with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

In his seventh year in the NBA, Tatum is fresh off his fourth straight All-Star season, and he’s been named All-NBA three times. He’s a rising star in the league, and some say he’s a top-five player in the NBA.

During the interview, Iguodala recalled a 2021 conversation he had with Tatum, one that didn’t sit well with the former Philadelphia 76ers and Golden State Warriors player.

That conversation revolved around the best player in the league, and Iguodala said Tatum’s comment made his heart drop.

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Jayson Tatum Failed Andre Iguodala’s Test in 2021

Before the meat of the interview started with Tatum, Iguodala reflected on a time in 2021 when he tested Tatum.

He asked him a simple question to get a read on the mindset of the Celtics star.

“I check folks’ temperature by asking one question,” he told his co-host Turner, with Tatum sitting in the room. “It just gives me a feel for who they are.

“So I asked him who was the best player in the league. The answer he gave me, my heart dropped.”

“I said Giannis (Antetokounmpo) at the time,” Tatum said. “Context is important. This was right after they won the championship.

I got a lot of respect for guys that get to the top of the mountain and then get over the mountain.

At the time, they had just won the Finals. He had a hell of a run. So when he asked me, I was like, Giannis.”

Iguodala says he loves the way Tatum answers his questions, and said players like Tatum make his job as a podcast host and interviewer much easier.

He did, however, say that wasn’t the answer he was looking for.

“It irks me,” Iguodala said. “Sometimes, I just want you to go crazy on ’em and just let ’em know.”

Tatum Doesn’t Lack Confidence in Himself

Tatum’s answer wasn’t wrong. Antetokounmpo won back-to-back MVPs in 2019 and 2020 before winning the championship in 2021.

He was the talk of the NBA and helped turn the Milwaukee Bucks into a championship contender.

He said his answer back then doesn’t mean he doesn’t believe he’s not the best player on the court when he suits up.

“I mean, when I step on the court, I don’t step on the court and be like, ‘I’m the second-best player,’” Tatum said.

“That never crosses my mind. Everytime I step on the court, I know and feel like I’m the best player on the court.”

Tatum certainly has come a long way since his days as a rookie in the league. With three All-NBA seasons under his belt, he’s proven to be one of the best.

Last season, he averaged a career-high 30.1 points. He also put up career-bests in rebounds (8.8) and assists (4.6).