Jaylen Brown, the Boston Celtics’ star shooting guard and reigning NBA champion, hoped to end the 2025 preseason on a high note. Instead, he is facing an injury that could sideline him for the team’s opener against the Philadelphia 76ers, creating early uncertainty for a team already dealing with major roster turnover.
How Will a Hamstring Injury Affect Jaylen Brown’s Availability?
Following the Celtics’ final preseason game, a narrow 110-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, October 15, questions arose about Brown’s health. It was revealed that the starting shooting guard sustained a tweaked hamstring, putting his status for the season opener on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, in doubt.
Despite the concern, Brown appeared optimistic when he spoke to the media after practice. He shared that he and the Boston training staff are taking a cautious approach. “We’ll take it one day at a time, but as of now, I feel great,” Brown said.
The Celtics’ depth and versatility look much different this season. Key players from their championship run have departed, including defensive-minded point guard Jrue Holiday, who signed with Portland, versatile big man Kristaps Porziņģis, who joined Trae Young in Atlanta, and veteran center Al Horford, who headed to the West Coast to team up with Stephen Curry. Brown understands the impact of these losses and the new coaching philosophy coach Joe Mazzulla has implemented to keep the team competitive.
“This is the style of basketball we have to play,” Brown commented on the adjustments. He added that Mazzulla has “maybe been a little crazy, but a little crazy is needed at times.”
The early schedule adds to the pressure. With three of their first five games against tough opponents from last year’s postseason, the New York Knicks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers, the Celtics need Brown in top form. His ability to fill up the stat sheet will be critical for Boston to start building championship momentum once again.
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Compounding the issue is a significant injury to Brown’s backcourt running mate, Jayson Tatum. He suffered an untimely torn right Achilles tendon during Game 4 of Boston’s Eastern Conference semifinal matchup against the Knicks and required surgery. The recovery from such a serious injury could cause Tatum to miss significant playing time, as he is focused on being 100% healthy and feels no need to rush his rehabilitation.
As a result, Celtics fans will look to Brown to lead the starting five until Tatum returns. Although their hopes of defending their 2024 NBA championship fizzled out, Brown and the Celtics aim to keep everyone healthy for the 2025-26 season as they look to prove they are still a formidable threat in the Eastern Conference.
