The Celtics entered the summer knowing change was inevitable. With the second apron of the salary cap looming and Jayson Tatum sidelined due to injury, Boston had to make some tough calls - and they didn’t hesitate. Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet all moved on, marking the end of an era and the beginning of something new.
For Brad Stevens, the architect of this roster evolution, the moves made sense on paper. But even the most calculated front office decisions come with uncertainty - especially when it comes to how the remaining core would respond. That spotlight landed squarely on Jaylen Brown.
Brown’s been a fixture in Boston since 2016, and for most of that time, he’s been part of a team that expected to contend. Deep playoff runs, conference finals appearances - the standard has been high.
So when the roster reset and Tatum’s injury cast a shadow over the Celtics’ immediate future, the question wasn’t just about the new faces. It was about how the veterans would carry the torch.
So far, Brown has answered that question emphatically.
He’s playing the best basketball of his career, averaging 29.3 points per game while shooting a blistering 50 percent from the field - both career highs. It’s not just the numbers, though. It’s the way he’s doing it: attacking with confidence, shouldering the offensive load, and setting the tone for a team that could’ve easily taken a step back.
Instead, Boston has stayed in the fight, navigating a thinner Eastern Conference with resilience and purpose. Brown’s emergence as a go-to option in Tatum’s absence has been a stabilizing force, and it’s clear he’s embracing the responsibility that comes with being the guy.
There’s still a long way to go, and plenty of questions remain about how far this version of the Celtics can climb. But if Brown keeps playing at this level, Boston won’t just stay afloat - they’ll stay dangerous.