All eyes are on Jaylen Brown as the Boston Celtics prepare to start the upcoming 2025-26 NBA season.
The Celtics, with Brown and Jayson Tatum leading the way, accomplished their ultimate goal by defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. Although they hoped to protect their position as defending champions, the Celtics were unable to get past the second round of the playoffs in 2025, partly because Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon toward the end of the Celtics’ postseason run, and the pressure is now on Brown to carry the team.
What’s the Latest on Jaylen Brown?
Brown suited up for the Celtics’ preseason opener against the Memphis Grizzlies. He led his squad to victory, recording 21 points in 20 minutes of action, 121-103. They then ended up losing their next preseason game to the Toronto Raptors, 107-105, with Brown missing the game due to rest.
The coming season is huge for Brown, as it will be a test of his ability to lead the team. With less than two weeks left before the season begins, footage of Brown getting shots up in practice was posted by Celtics reporter Noa Dalzell — a good signal for the star forward’s availability with two preseason games left.
Jaylen Brown getting in some 1v1 work with the Celtics assistant coaches after shootaround today pic.twitter.com/W1OcXt6oor
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 12, 2025
Several prediction polls have the Celtics performing poorly this season, with some even predicting that the team will struggle to get through the play-in tournament.
If Brown gets injured at any point in the season, the Celtics might fall drastically in the Eastern Conference. The good news is that Tatum appears to be healing at a faster pace than expected.
Although it was initially reported that Tatum would miss the majority of the 2025-26 season and would hopefully return in time for the playoffs, he has already been spotted successfully dunking a basketball and gently testing his landing.
If the Celtics can get Tatum back after the All-Star break, which seems possible as things stand, they will have enough time to develop team chemistry and make a deep push into the postseason.
The pressure will still be on Brown to start the season. If he is unable to help his team hold onto a comfortable spot in the postseason, it might urge the organization to shut Tatum down and try again next season.
It is also possible for Tatum to hurry back from injury and attempt to speed up his recovery process if Brown and the Celtics struggle throughout the course of the season. Fans are left wondering what the team will be able to accomplish.