The 2024-25 season certainly didn't end how most Boston Celtics fans were envisioning, and it left plenty of doubt and uncertainty in the minds of the fanbase headed into next season. However, it looks as if Jaylen Brown will look to take on an even bigger role with his superstar partner Jayson Tatum out for most, if not all, of 2025-26. That's something that's sure to provide some excitement.
Brown recently made an appearance on Kyrie's Irving's Twitch stream, and stated that we haven't exactly seen him at his best, due to the sacrifice necessary while playing next to a talent like Tatum. That's certainly an intriguing thought for Celtics fans to ponder, given that Jaylen will have a chance to prove his bold words correct in the upcoming season as he becomes Boston's number one option.
What next season will have the potential to do is change everything about how we ultimately view Jaylen Brown as a player. For years, he has been one of the most scrutinized second options in the league.
Many have viewed number seven as a bit streaky, somewhat turnover-prone, and an up-and-down clutch performer. But really, a lot of that perception has come from judging Brown through the lens of him being a co-star. What if he was never really meant to be cast in that role?
Jaylen Brown will be fully unleashed in the 2025-26 season
That is what Jaylen is now daring people to consider. Not in a loud, attention-seeking way, but simply by stepping into the opportunity that has finally landed in his lap. He is no longer tethered to Tatum’s usage rate or forced to defer in the biggest moments. If he fails, it will be his failure. But if he succeeds, the Celtics could still be far more dangerous than people expect.
There's no doubt the rest of the Eastern Conference is licking their chops with Tatum, Damian Lillard and Tyrese Haliburton all injured next year. But the Celtics are not out of the fight, and Jaylen Brown will have a real shot to lead this group and keep Boston in the hunt.
2025-26 will not just be about winning games for number seven, it will be about rewriting perception. Jaylen has heard the whispers, and he knows there are those who believe he cannot carry a team as a number one option. He knows people doubt his handle, his jumper, his ability to close. And yet, he keeps showing up and keeps improving, nine years in to his professional career.
That is the piece that could make all the difference. If Brown’s mindset is as locked in as it sounds, and if he really has more to his game than what we have seen while playing next to Tatum, then this upcoming season could be something special.
The Celtics are still very much in the mix in the Eastern Conference, and if Jaylen Brown is who he says he is, that should terrify everyone else.