Ahead of the 2026 season, Brad Stevens opened up on how confident he is in Jaylen Brown to lead the Celtics in Jayson Tatum's absence.
Heading into the 2026 season, the biggest storyline for the Boston Celtics is the absence of Jayson Tatum. With the star forward recovering from an Achilles injury, many are expecting a gap year from the Eastern Conference contender. However, even with him set to miss extended time, one key member of the organization is confident they'll be able to remain competitive.
With Tatum sidelined, Jaylen Brown will be tasked with leading the charge as the sole All-Star in the lineup. Boston will still have guys like Anfernee Simons, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard to help fill the void, but Brown is going to be the featured piece of the offense. Even though he's only done this in small spurts over the years, the Celtics believe he is capable of taking on such a role.
While speaking to the media at Summer League, Brad Stevens touched on the Celtics' current situation. He touched on Brown being a focal point and is confident he can keep Boston competitive until Tatum can return to action.
“There’s no question that Jaylen will draw the most attention and that Jaylen will, I think, thrive in that,” Stevens said. “I think he’s ready for any challenge, he always has been. I’m excited to see all these guys take a step up. Again, I’m excited to see a chip on their shoulder."
Since being drafted in 2016, Brown has developed into an impactful two-way forward. He's stepped up big for the Celtics in the past on numerous occasions, most notably winning Finals MVP in 2024. Fully aware of the situation at hand, Brown is sure to be ready to take the mantle when next season starts.
After years of being viewed as Tatum's running mate in Boston, Brown now has a chance to prove that he is capable of being "the guy" for the Celtics as well.
Category: Basketball
