As the 2025-26 NBA season tips off amid a whirlwind of injuries and roster shakeups, the Boston Celtics find themselves in uncharted territory. Jayson Tatum, the face of the franchise and last season’s scoring machine, is sidelined indefinitely after rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks back in May. With Tatum expected to miss the bulk—if not all—of the campaign, the spotlight has intensified on All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, who is returning from his own knee surgery. The burning question on every Celtics fan’s mind: Can Brown carry Boston back to the playoffs in what could be the most challenging season of his career?
The injury to Tatum, Boston’s leading scorer from the 2024-25 season with averages of 27.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, has reshaped the team’s identity overnight. Tatum’s absence not only depletes the offense but also removes the defensive anchor who anchored the Celtics’ championship aspirations. Brown, who posted solid numbers last year—22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists across 63 games—now steps into the role of unquestioned alpha. But with the Eastern Conference loaded with contenders like the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, and Milwaukee Bucks, Brown’s burden could prove too heavy without a co-star.
Brown’s Injury Recovery and Early Optimism
Brown isn’t entering this season unscathed. He battled a partially torn meniscus in the 2025 playoffs, undergoing successful arthroscopic surgery shortly after Boston’s elimination. Recent updates from Celtics president Brad Stevens indicate Brown is ahead of schedule, already back at the practice facility and expected to be fully cleared for training camp without limitations. “Jaylen’s making great progress,” Stevens said in a July press conference. “We’re not going to rush him, but we have every reason to believe he’ll be ready to go.”
In the playoffs last spring, Brown showed flashes of his potential as a lead option, averaging career highs in rebounds and assists despite the knee discomfort. If he can elevate his game—perhaps pushing toward 28-30 points per contest while maintaining his elite two-way play—the Celtics could stay afloat. Brown’s athleticism and scoring versatility make him a nightmare matchup, but consistency will be key. As one X user put it in a recent thread: “Jaylen Brown has the tools to lead, but without Tatum, it’s Jaylen’s team now—time to prove it.”
Roster Overhaul: Depth Tested by Departures
The Celtics’ front office, led by Stevens, didn’t sit idle during the offseason, but the moves reflect a rebuilding mindset rather than a full reload. Key veterans Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday were traded—Porzingis to the Atlanta Hawks and Holiday to an undisclosed team—in deals that netted youthful talent, draft picks, and salary cap relief. Georges Niang was also moved, while free agency brought in Chris Boucher for frontcourt depth and rookie RJ Luis Jr. as a low-cost addition. Al Horford’s future remains uncertain, with rumors swirling of a potential retirement or buyout.
This thinning of the roster leaves Boston with a $200 million payroll dominated by Tatum and Brown’s massive contracts, limiting flexibility. The team now relies on role players like Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and newcomers to fill the void. Defensively, Boston ranked fifth in defensive rating last season (111.1), but without Porzingis’ rim protection and Holiday’s perimeter defense, cracks could show. Offensively, the net rating (+9.4) was third-best, but shifting to a Brown-centric system will test the supporting cast’s ability to space the floor and crash the glass.
Early preseason predictions place the Celtics in the 7-10 play-in range in the East, per ESPN’s summer forecast. “Injuries will be a huge factor,” the report noted, projecting Boston around 42-40—enough for a postseason sniff but far from a guarantee. The conference is brutal: The Knicks, fresh off knocking out Boston, boast Jalen Brunson and a deep bench, while the Cavaliers lead offseason power rankings with Evan Mobley anchoring the defense.
The Path to the Playoffs: Mixed Odds and High Stakes
So, can Brown clinch a playoff spot? The odds are indeed mixed, as initial reports suggested. On one hand, Brown’s proven he can shoulder a load—his 2024 Finals MVP performance (21 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists per game) demonstrated leadership under pressure. A healthy Brown, combined with strategic coaching from Joe Mazzulla, could keep Boston competitive in the Atlantic Division. New additions like Boucher bring rebounding grit, and if young players like Luis Jr. contribute surprises, the margin for error expands slightly.
On the flip side, the lack of a second superstar exposes vulnerabilities. Without Tatum, Boston’s closing ability in crunch time suffers, and the roster’s depth has been “shaken,” as one analyst put it. A Celtics legend echoed this skepticism on X, stating Brown alone might not suffice for postseason success. Preseason chatter on social media highlights the divide: Some fans see Brown as an underrated star ready to shine, while others fear a lottery-bound season.
The Eastern Conference play-in tournament offers a safety net, but with teams like the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat lurking, nothing is assured. If Brown stays healthy, boosts his efficiency (he shot 47.8% from the field last year), and the defense holds, the Celtics have a realistic shot at the No. 6-8 seeds. But it will demand resilience, smart rotations, and perhaps a few breakout performances from the bench.
As the season unfolds, Brown’s journey will define not just Boston’s year, but his legacy. “I’m looking forward to it,” Brown said in July, embracing the challenge. For a franchise with 18 banners, this is a test of grit over glamour. The playoffs? Possible, but it’ll be Brown’s show—and the Celtics’ survival depends on his encore.
