Celtics May Have Jaylen Brown Injury Worry Ahead of Playoffs
As the Boston Celtics head into the 2025 NBA playoffs, one major concern looms over their championship aspirations: the health of Jaylen Brown. The All-Star forward is nursing a bone bruise in his right knee, an injury that has lingered through the final stretch of the regular season and raised questions about his availability and effectiveness in the postseason.
Brown has missed seven of the team’s last 15 games due to the injury and, even when active, has played limited minutes. He notably sat out the crucial matchup against the Orlando Magic, forfeiting his eligibility for any end-of-season awards or All-NBA selections due to falling short of the league’s 65-game minimum requirement. While such accolades may not be the Celtics’ primary focus right now, his absence is a reminder of how delicate the situation has become.
Teammates have expressed concern but remain optimistic. Kristaps Porzingis commented that Brown has been “doing what he can,” acknowledging that the knee issue has clearly been affecting him. Coach Joe Mazzulla, meanwhile, has been cautious about rushing Brown back to full activity, prioritizing long-term health and playoff readiness over regular-season wins.
The Celtics, who hold the No. 2 seed in the East with a 60-21 record, are favored to make a deep playoff run. However, their title hopes rest heavily on the availability of their core stars. While Jayson Tatum and the supporting cast—including Derrick White and Payton Pritchard—have stepped up, Brown’s presence adds a two-way dynamic that is hard to replace.
Boston is set to face either the Orlando Magic or Atlanta Hawks in the first round, starting April 19 or 20. While there’s hope that Brown will be ready by then, the team is clearly managing expectations. With the playoffs just around the corner,
