Things are going to be different for the Boston Celtics in the 2025-26 campaign. With Jayson Tatum still working his way back from a torn Achilles tendon, that means Jaylen Brown will be the de facto leader of the Celtics for the first time in his career. While Brown has largely been the 1B to Tatum’s 1A for the majority of his time in the NBA, the spotlight is fully on him now, and he’s embracing the new role he has found himself in. Brown has been more vocal both on and off the court ahead of the new season as he looks to keep the C’s in competition for a playoff spot. Over the past few months, Brown has increased his presence on social media, whether it be through streaming on Twitch or uploading videos on YouTube. In one of his latest videos, Brown dropped an eye-opening truth bomb on the talent level of the NBA ahead of the new season. “Some of the most talented players are not in the NBA right now,” Brown said in a video uploaded to his YouTube channel. “That might sound crazy, but it’s not. The game has changed. In the ‘90s and 2000s, the best players in the world were in the league. But now, in the 2020s, that’s no longer the case.” “I do not believe all the best players are in the NBA. Of course, basketball is more than just talent and skill. The NBA is built on potential now. It’s about utility guys, about assets.” Story continues below advertisement Brown’s take is definitely intriguing, and it goes to show just how big the game of basketball has become. There are so many different leagues internationally that some players don’t even consider a career in the NBA. With that in mind, Brown thinks that there’s a collection of NBA-caliber players who simply aren’t in the league. The good news for the Celtics is that Brown not only found his way to the NBA, but he also found his way to their team. Now, Boston is hoping he will be able to find his way onto the court for its season-opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night, as he’s currently dealing with a hamstring injury.