The Celtics already know they will be without Jayson Tatum for the star of next season after he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles. However, the availability of Jaylen Brown early next year is suddenly a bit of a question mark after a league source confirmed to MassLive that the All-Star played through a partially torn right meniscus in the final two months of the season. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne was first to report the meniscus tear.
Brown declined to name specifics when asked about the status of his knee Friday night following the Celtics’ season-ending Game 6 loss.
“Nothing to talk about right now,” Brown said. “But we’ll see the next steps, and you just sit back and process and see what the next steps are.”
Those next steps will be crucial in determining the severity of Brown’s injury, his recovery time and potential impact on Boston’s offseason. Let’s take a closer look at the possibilities with a meniscus tear and what it could mean for the front office as they weigh their options this summer with the roster.
With a meniscus tear, there is the possibility that the injury can be treated without surgery. However, the vast majority of meniscus injuries do require surgery according to NBA injury analyst Jeff Stotts. There are two types of meniscus surgeries, repairs and removals. A removal is the more common procedure and has a shorter recovery window (6-8 weeks generally). However, the removal of the meniscus can lead to long-term issues like osteoarthritis or other complications. Dwyane Wade famously dealt with these issues later in his career after a meniscus removal.
The other option is a meniscus repair which often has better long-term results but can sideline players for several months as opposed to weeks. Daniel Theis and Robert Williams are two former Celtics that underwent surgery for a torn meniscus while with the team. Williams missed about a month after his procedure in March 2022 while Theis had a season-ending procedure back in March 2018.
Brown would likely be cleared to play before opening night in most surgery scenarios depending on timing. However, his recovery timetable would be worth watching if a repair was decided upon as the best long-term solution for the injury.
With the Celtics already weighing plenty of major changes this offseason due to financial constraints and Tatum’s injury, Brown’s status looms large on any potential paths for next season. Boston getting clarity on his future will be a big first step as they map out their options this summer and beyond.