With 4:41 remaining in the second quarter of Wednesday night’s win over the Golden State Warriors, Jaylen Brown stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to pass Dave Cowens to become the 10th leading scorer in Boston Celtics’ team history. Two makes later, it was done. His first-half scoring outburst brought his career-total to 13,193 points, which was enough to officially pass Cowens..
“I’m very grateful,” Brown shared in the locker room after the 120-99 win. “A lot of legends on that list not only made big contributions to the Celtics, but also to the game of basketball. So I'm very humbled and very grateful.”
After passing Cowens, he and Jayson Tatum are now slotted at nine and 10 amongst the franchise’s top scorers.
It's done.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) March 18, 2026
13 years after the Celtics traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to Brooklyn for players and 1st round picks, those first two picks are now both top 10 scorers in franchise history. pic.twitter.com/lmJrFuaUGR
“First from what it means to coach him, there's just gratitude,” Head coach Joe Mazzulla explained postgame. “ You don’t take for granted, being able to coach some of the best players in the game today, but some of the best players of all time.”
For perspective, that many points would make either man the franchise leader in points for the Orlando Magic, New Orleans Pelicans, Memphis Grizzlies, Los Angeles Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, and Brooklyn Nets.
To put this in perspective, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would already be the all-time leading scorers of the Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Clippers, Hornets, and Nets. https://t.co/FfBXc5rb5l
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 19, 2026
“For Jaylen, I think you know, the responsibility and ownership of taking on being a Celtic, going after greatness is extremely important, and something that he takes very seriously,” Mazzulla continued. “We’ve talked about it before, this job isn't what it is unless the people before us who left it better than they found it, who competed at the highest level and made it what it is.”
Brown's All-NBA caliber season has allowed the Celtics to dream of a 19th title
Brown finished the night with 32 points, marking his third 30-plus-point performance in four outings.
At just 28 years old, Brown is now in the home stretch of his 10th season as a Celtic, becoming the first player to reach a decade in green since Paul Pierce. It’s undoubtedly been his best. Through 62 games, JB is playing at an All-NBA level. He rode into the matchup with Golden State averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game on 47.9% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc.
His inspired play has led to the Celtics sitting second in the Eastern Conference with just 13 games remaining in a season that was initially thought to be a wash by many outside of the organization. With Tatum now back into the fold after missing the first 62 matchups recovering from his torn Achilles tendon, the Celtics are in position to potentially make more history with a deep playoff run.
“The ability to make history and get into that is the stepping stone of leaving it better than you found it, of [upholding] the standard for what the people before you have and it's something that he takes seriously," Mazzulla praised of the 2024 NBA Finals MVP.