Coming into the playoffs, Jaylen Brown reportedly had a bone bruise in his knee that restricted the All-Star’s explosiveness and lateral quickness. As such, we did not get the chance to see the participant who received the NBA Finals MVP simply 12 months in the past.
The Boston Celtics postseason went from dangerous to worse when Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles tear. Now, it might seem Brown’s damage was additionally worse than first feared.
“Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown completed the season with {a partially} torn proper meniscus, sources instructed ESPN,” ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on May 16. “ESPN beforehand reported that Brown had acquired ache injections in his knee. These injections started in March, sources mentioned.”
Brown’s damage might probably hold him out for the opening months of the 2025-26 season. As such, the Celtics can be with out each of their stars. Given the price of the present roster, Brad Stevens will undoubtedly be seeking to make some adjustments within the coming months. Brown’s knee difficulty and the truth that his knees have been an ongoing problem for years might make him a possible commerce candidate.
The Celtics are going through a reality they never planned for. What as soon as projected as a dynasty now appears like a one-and-done roster. Re-tooling over the subsequent 12-18 months is the neatest path ahead, making certain the staff is in place to compete when its stars return in full. Nevertheless, if the Celtics do not belief that Brown will make a full restoration and concern his knees will grow to be a recurring drawback, he is probably not a part of the subsequent iteration.
It is seemingly Boston is nearer to the lottery than it’s to a championship subsequent season. A 28-year-old supermax expertise, who depends on athleticism whereas having knee troubles, is not the kind of participant you need to anchor your staff round. As such, the Celtics may must pivot, and that would scupper the plans they put in place as soon as it was clear Tatum was going to be out for a major period of time. Celtics followers will undoubtedly hope someone wakes them up from this nightmare.