Even in a season without Jayson Tatum, the Celtics are highly competitive in the East. After a 146-115 road win vs. the Clippers on Saturday, Boston improved to 22-12.
That is third in the East and only a half-game back from the Knicks in second. Leading the way for the Celtics in 2025-26 has been veteran SF Jaylen Brown. He is in his 10th professional season with the Boston Celtics. Brown is averaging a career-high 30.1 points per game. Recently, Jaylen Brown spoke to the media and said he believes he is “the best two-way player in the game.”
Jaylen Brown is proving he has what it takes to be Boston’s first option
The recent quote from Jaylen Brown makes sense after he scored 50 points in Boston’s win on Saturday vs. the Clippers. That tied Brown’s previous career-high set on January 2, 2022. Nearly four years to the day, Brown had another 50-point performance. He was an impressive 18-26 from the field and 6-10 from behind the arc. Additionally, Brown was 8-10 from the free-throw line and added three rebounds and five assists.
After that dominant performance, Jaylen Brown made a strong claim. The 29-year-old said he believes he is “the best two-way player in the game.” It’s as if Brown wants validation for being the #2 option for all these years behind Jayson Tatum. Despite being drafted a year before Tatum, Jaylen Brown has always been the Robin. Tatum is Boston’s Batman. Without the services of Jayson Tatum in 2025-26, the Celtics have turned to Jaylen Brown.
In his 10th season, Brown is delivering for Boston. His previous career-high was 26.6 points per game in 2022-23. However, Jaylen Brow is at 30.1 points per game in 2025-26. Brown’s 50-point game on Saturday helped increase his scoring average. In a season that many expected the Celtics to have an off year, Jaylen Brown has kept the team competitive in the Eastern Conference.
There is a belief around the Celtics’ organization that Jayson Tatum will return later in 2025-26. That would be a massive addition to a team that is already in the top three in the East. Boston has not lost a step this season. Jaylen Brown has carried the team offensively early in the year and continues to add to his career-best season. The Celtics are at home on Monday to face Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls.
