The Boston Celtics are preparing to start the 2025-26 campaign without superstar Jayson Tatum, who could miss most, if not all, of the season due to a torn Achilles.
However, Tatum’s injury will give Jaylen Brown the opportunity to prove he’s worth the supermax contract extension that the Celtics gave him in July 2023.
Entering his 10th season, Brown will operate as Boston’s No. 1 option for the first time in his career. After a slight dip in production during the 2024-25 season, Shaun Powell of NBA.com ranked Brown as the eighth-best player in the Eastern Conference heading into 2025-26.
“Still, for a No. 2 option, Brown rates among the very best — and he’d be No. 1 on several teams that don’t employ, among others, Tatum,” he wrote. “We’ll see soon enough what Brown is capable of doing in that role, with Tatum sidelined perhaps the entire season.”
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Ranking ahead of the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns and Trae Young in the top 10, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Brown record a career high in shot attempts on a retooling Celtics roster. He averaged 17.7 field-goal attempts last season, along with 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.2 steals across 34.3 minutes per game in 63 regular-season outings.
Boston will rely on Brown and Derrick White to keep the team in playoff contention after trading both Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in cost-cutting moves this summer.
Brown has the tools and opportunity to surpass his No. 8 ranking, and the four-time All-Star will be tasked with carrying Boston’s offense as the team navigates a season with Tatum’s return still in question.
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