BOSTON — The Celtics have muted expectations for the first time in years as most outsiders don’t have them aiming for another championship. That’s partly due to roster turnover and partly due to Jayson Tatum’s injured Achilles. And through the early portions of preseason, the Celtics are building a new identity with a new team.
But Jaylen Brown doesn’t necessarily view it that way. The Celtics still have talent on their roster starting with Brown, the four-time All-Star. So, after C’s practice Monday, Brown had a bold statement at least when it comes to their roster.
“We just gotta stay the course,” Brown said. “We got enough. We’re looking at other teams — we feel like we’re just as talented or we could beat them. The most important thing is not hanging your head after some mistakes or hanging your head after a loss. We just gotta move forward.”
It remains to be seen how the Celtics mesh together, though the main guys have played well in their preseason games thus far. Part of that is how the C’s haven’t gone up against an opposing team’s main guys. But still, the results have been solid. Brown also pointed out that guys fighting for roster spots often play more-physical defense, which isn’t always the case playing against starters in the preseason.
Regardless, Brown will have a crucial impact on this team. With Tatum sidelined, Brown will be consistently at the top of the opposing scouting report. He’s already accomplished plenty in this league, including being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP for his work on both ends of the court. He also doesn’t look like he’s slowed down at all by the offseason knee surgery he had months ago at this point.
In many ways, it’s also a new role for Brown with this roster. The Celtics no longer employ longtime veterans who know the cadence of the 82-game season. No, they have hungry, young guys who are looking to prove they’re rotation-caliber NBA players. That’s also where Brown can help be a leader.
“I come to work every day trying to share my experiences, my basketball knowledge,” Brown said. “And also thinking about how I can bring the most out of everybody around me and my teammates. How to make them better as well as trying to perform at my highest level. It’s a balance. I have the tools to do it. I think I’ve been in enough roles throughout my years to have a good feel for everything. I’m embracing it; I’m enjoying it.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.