The Boston Celtics are once again proving their mettle as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference, with a top-4 seed all but assured for the 2025-26 NBA season. Fueling this charge are star guard Jaylen Brown and versatile guard Derrick White, both of whom are on track to earn coveted All-NBA honors, a testament to their individual brilliance and the team’s collective strength.
Despite the absence of Jayson Tatum, who is sidelined for most, if not all, of the season due to a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in the 2025 playoffs, the Celtics have defied expectations. A bold prediction from NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg has Boston firmly in the top four of the Eastern Conference, driven by the dynamic performances of Brown and White. “I think at Christmas, the Boston Celtics will be a top-four team in the Eastern Conference,” Forsberg stated. “Derrick White, Jaylen Brown, and Payton Pritchard are healthy, they’re gonna be so much better than people expect.”
Jaylen Brown’s Breakout Leadership
Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, has seized the opportunity to lead as Boston’s primary offensive engine. With Tatum out, Brown has elevated his game to new heights, averaging 27.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game, according to fan projections on Reddit. His standout performance in Game 5 of the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks—where he dropped 26 points, 12 assists, and eight rebounds—demonstrated his ability to carry the team in clutch moments.
Brown’s efficiency as a scorer remains impressive, with a career 48.3% field goal percentage and 35.7% from three-point range since becoming a full-time starter in 2019-20. Despite a slight dip in shooting percentages this season, his playmaking and rebounding have surged, positioning him as a lock for his second All-NBA nod after earning Second Team honors in 2022-23. “Jaylen Brown really shined without Tatum, putting up 29.2 PPG before Tatum came back,” noted a Reddit user, highlighting his ability to thrive as the focal point.
However, Brown’s All-NBA candidacy faced a hurdle last season when a lingering knee injury limited him to 63 games, rendering him ineligible for awards due to the NBA’s 65-game minimum rule. With a healthy start to 2025-26 and a surgically repaired meniscus, Brown is expected to clear this threshold and solidify his case for All-NBA First or Second Team.
Derrick White’s All-Star Ascent
Derrick White, long an analytics darling, is making a compelling case for his first All-NBA selection. The 30-year-old guard, fresh off a four-year, $126 million extension signed in July 2024, has cemented his status as one of the league’s premier two-way players. White’s back-to-back All-Defensive Team selections in 2023 and 2024 underscore his elite perimeter defense, while his offensive contributions have soared. Last season, he set a Celtics franchise record for three-pointers made, showcasing his sharpshooting prowess.
Advanced metrics paint White as a near-All-NBA lock, ranking 14th in Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), sixth in eRAPTOR, and 16th in LEBRON. “Derrick White is an analytics darling who ranks as closer to an All-NBA player than a non-All-Star,” noted CelticsBlog. His projected 17.2 points per game this season, paired with his defensive tenacity, has him in the conversation for All-NBA Third Team, a significant leap for a player who has yet to earn an All-Star nod.
Celtics’ Top-4 Seed in Sight
Despite trading away key pieces like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to navigate the NBA’s second apron luxury tax, the Celtics have maintained their competitive edge. A projected starting lineup featuring Brown, White, Anfernee Simons, Georges Niang, and Luka Garza is expected to keep Boston in the upper echelon of the East. Fan predictions on Reddit peg the Celtics at a 53-29 record, good for second in the conference, bolstered by a strong 21-5 finish after the All-Star break if Tatum returns late in the season.
The Eastern Conference remains highly competitive, with teams like the New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Philadelphia 76ers posing significant threats. However, Boston’s depth, led by Brown and White, along with emerging contributors like Payton Pritchard and Sam Hauser, has kept them ahead of expectations. “Part of the reason this team could still contend in 2026 is due to how open the Eastern Conference is,” wrote The Lead.
A Pivotal Season for Boston
The 2025-26 season is a defining one for the Celtics, who are navigating a transitional year without their superstar Tatum. Yet, with Brown stepping up as a primary option and White delivering All-NBA-caliber performances, Boston remains a formidable force. “I have full faith in Jaylen,” said Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens when asked about Brown leading the team.
As the season unfolds, Brown and White’s pursuit of All-NBA honors will be a storyline to watch, potentially culminating in a deep playoff run for a resilient Celtics squad. With the TD Garden faithful behind them, the defending champions are poised to prove they are far from a “gap year” team.
