Celtics Guard Challenges Jaylen Brown to Elevate His Game This Season

May 14, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket in the second half during game five of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

Can four-time All-Star Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown level up in 2025-26, without his six-time All-Star running mate Jayson Tatum available?

Tatum, indisputably Boston's best player, went down with an unfortunate Achilles tear injury during the second round of this spring's playoffs, in a doomed playoff series against the New York Knicks. He will likely miss the entire forthcoming season, and there's no guarantee that he'll be able to recover his All-NBA form when he does return.

His relative youth (he's 27) and the expedient turnaround of his surgery to repair the ailment could help his cause, however.

Jaylen Brown, Man on a Mission?

In the meantime, the onus will fall to Brown to grow his offensive game a bit. He's already a solid two-way player (he was named Finals MVP during Boston's 2024 championship run, after all), but his handle is a bit spotty and his 3-point shooting fell off last year.

Without Tatum or now-former starters Jrue Holiday or Kristaps Porzingis, it's going to fall to Brown, two-time All-Defensive Team guard Derrick White, reigning Sixth Man of the Year Payton Pritchard, and new trade addition Anfernee Simons to pick up the scoring slack a bit.

More news: Who Will Replace Jayson Tatum This Season? Celtics Insider Answers

So can Brown become one of the best five players in the league?

Derrick White sure thinks so. During a new episode of his essential "White Noise" podcast, the 6-foot-4 guard predicts that Brown will be named to his first-ever All-NBA First Team this season. The 28-year-old has previously made a single All-NBA Third Team.

"I mean, probably [Denver Nuggets MVP center Nikola] Jokic, [Milwaukee Bucks MVP forward] Giannis [Antetokounmpo], that's probably the obvious ones," White said of who he thinks are shoo-ins for the All-NBA First Team in 2026. "[Los Angeles Lakers guard] Luka Doncic, [Oklahoma City Thunder MVP guard] Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], and Jaylen Brown."

More news: $45 Million Celtics Vet Poised for Breakout Year, Predicts Insider

Gilgeous-Alexander, it should be mentioned, is the reigning MVP and Finals MVP. He feels like an obvious choice to us, as well.

In 63 healthy games last year, Brown averaged 22.2 points on .463/.324/.764 shooting splits, 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and 1.2 steals a night. He'll likely seek to ramp up his 17.7 field goal takes per game last season.

For more news and notes on the Boston Celtics, visit Boston Celtics on SI.