After their elimination from the playoffs in the second round, it was reported that Boston Celtics Forward Jaylen Brown was playing through a partially torn meniscus. During the regular season, Brown missed some time over the final stretch of games, dealing with a bone bruise in his knee.
This news revealed that it was much more than a bone bruise. Brown may require surgery in the offseason, and if he goes through with it, it could impact the Celtics next season. It also puts Jaylen Brown’s overall playoff performance into perspective, considering what he played through.
Jaylen Brown’s Playoff Performance
Ramona Shelburne reported Jaylen Brown’s injury after Boston’s elimination. During the last month of the regular season, Brown’s athleticism was visibly off. He missed a stretch of games, but also played in a few in the final weeks, when many thought he should sit. On plays where he would usually dunk, he would lay the ball up or pass it off. But Brown justified his persistence to play, saying he wanted to get a feel for his injury and body with the playoffs looming. Now that the full injury has been revealed, it makes his efforts even more admirable.
Jaylen Brown did not have a perfect playoff run, but he had multiple impactful performances. In the first round, when Jayson Tatum missed Game 2 with a wrist injury, Brown stepped up. He scored 36 points on 12-of-19 shooting, going 5-of-7 from three. His next best game came in the second round. Tatum was done for good after tearing his Achilles in Game 4, and the Celtics were down 3-1.
However, in Game 5, Brown had one of his most complete games. He finished with 26 points, 8 rebounds, and 12 assists, and was tenacious on defense. On one play, he laid out for a loose ball, leading to a transition bucket. Showing his warrior mentality.
Brown had his down moments as well, with multiple inefficient and high-turnover games. In the postseason, he averaged 3.5 turnovers per game and shot 44.1% from the field, a career low in the playoffs. Hie inefficiency and ball security cost the Celtics at times, especially in Games 1 and 2 versus the Knicks. A stronger output from Brown could have prevented two blown 20-point leads.
What This Means For the Celtics
This injury puts Jaylen Brown’s inconsistent playoff run into context. For some games, he was controlled and patient, getting to his spot and asserting himself. In other games, he looked gassed and out of control, committing turnovers and putting up bad shots that cost the Celtics. In their 2024 playoff run, Brown was at his best. He brought down his turnovers and was an integral part of Boston’s championship, winning the NBA Finals MVP.
If the Celtics want to get back to the Finals, the most important thing is the health of Tatum and Brown. Tatum is already expected to miss most of or all of next season, and depending on whether Brown needs surgery, he may miss time as well. Boston is set to make significant changes this offseason, so Brown’s status could play a role in what moves the front office makes to cheapen their expensive roster.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of how he played, Jaylen Brown gutting through a partially torn meniscus is admirable. He had his down games and was a factor in costing the Celtics at times, but also made up for it with big performances when Tatum went down. His status and whether he needs surgery will be something to monitor in the coming days, as it could have lasting effects on Brown and the Celtics.
