Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has stepped up his leadership role within the team this 2025-26 NBA season. Without star forward Jayson Tatum, Brown has more responsibility to be the captain of the team. Tatum is expected to miss the entire season as he undergoes rehabilitation for his torn Achilles tendon.
Ahead of the season, the Celtics weren’t expected to be a playoff team. Aside from Tatum’s absence, the team moved some key players over the summer. Jrue Holiday was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, and Kristaps Porzingis was dealt to the Atlanta Hawks.
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Luke Kornet and Al Horford departed the team as free agents. This changed the Celtics’ appearance before the start of the season.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) © Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images
Despite the changes, the Celtics have been competitive with an 18-11 record, making them the third-best team in the East. On Monday, Boston kept their winning streak alive against the Indiana Pacers, with a final score of 103-95.
Following the game, Brown had an unexpected take on how the season has become for the Celtics.
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“I think this has been my favorite season so far, being able to get an opportunity to lead a group of guys,” Brown said.
In the Celtics’ win over the Pacers, Brown was aggressive in scoring. He finished with 31 points and nine rebounds on 44% shooting. Overall, the former California star has averaged 29.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists through 26 games.
Before this campaign, Brown usually played the supporting role behind Tatum. However, he’s taken full control of the team as the leader while the former Duke star recovers from injury.
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Things are going great for the Celtics, and most of the credit belongs to Brown’s strong performance.
Related: Celtics Announce Jaylen Brown Status Update Before Raptors Game
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Dec 23, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.