Celtics’ Jaylen Brown desperately wants to be a ‘Knicks villain’ — it’s on him to prove it

ATLANTA — I’ll give Jaylen Brown what he desperately desires. Just for the next game, though. It’s painfully obvious he’s angling for villain status at the Garden, which should be earned through on-court performances and not Brown’s method of needling commentary.

But in lieu of any other candidates, he’ll get the spot. Trae Young, after all, is an afterthought, banished to the NBA’s Siberia in the nation’s capital. Only Tom Thibodeau can save the Wizards. Achilles tear victim Tyrese Haliburton hasn’t played in the Garden since the Choke 2.0 series, and his team — the Pacers — has a worse record than the (gasp!) Brooklyn Nets. 

Jimmy Butler is now out West and recovering from ACL surgery. Joel Embiid still carries potential, but until further notice he’s a walking injury aggravation.

So “Knicks villain” is a default title for now, bestowed by The Post upon Jaylen Brown. Plus, nobody wants it as bad as he does. Since training camp, I’ve counted at least five comments meant to inflame Knicks fans or inflame Boston’s hatred for New York, depending on where Brown’s motivations lay.