Celtics Fans Won't Believe Team's Net Rating Without Jaylen Brown On The Floor image
Nov 29, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) walks back to his bench after Minnesota Timberwolves regain the lead late in the fourth quarter at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
In a new episode of The Kevin O'Connor Show on Monday, O'Connor pointed out something ridiculously surprising about the Boston Celtics: Boston has a higher net rating when Jaylen Brown is off the floor this season.
“(Brown) has been unbelievable,” O’Connor said. “He’s been excellent. But what’s often not talked about is how amazing Boston is without Jaylen Brown, as well. … The Celtics this year are a +5.2 net rating with Jaylen Brown on the floor. They’re a +14.1 without Jaylen Brown on the floor this season.”
“(It's) hard to believe ... how dominant they are without Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown! It’s hard to fathom.”
This doesn't change the fact that Brown has played like an MVP candidate all season long. What it does reveal is the importance of Boston's culture, not to mention the talent the Celtics have on the roster beyond JB and JT -- talent that has been criminally underrated for years.
With the Celts set to be without Brown against the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday night, it'll be another opportunity for that talent to shine.