Celtics' Jaylen Brown's injury was worse than feared

Jaylen Brown fought through what was officially listed as a knee impact for months. Now that the dust settled on the Boston Celtics playoff, the whole story has emerged – a partially broken meniscus that required pain injections and mere determination to go through.

The revelation comes to a critical moment for a Celtics franchise, which already deals with Jayson Tatum Achilles break, throws a shadow about its immediate future and adds another layer to a transformative low season.

Brown played through a torn meniscus

Brown has been playing a dangerous game with his body since mid -February. What started as occasional complaints developed into a disease that required pain injections by March. Despite the warrior mentality, which has defined his nine years in Boston, Brown well for all 11 playoff games with an average of 22.3 points and 7.2 rebounds in 34 minutes per night.

“I think I start turning the curve. In structural everything is fine. I have a few other things going, but I think I'm somehow in the right direction.”
– Brown, before the Knicks series (about ESPN)

Despite public optimism, after the elimination of Boston, Brown had actually suffered a partial tear of his right meniscus.

Jaylen Brown's heroic play 5

In limited mobility and explosiveness, Brown managed to make one of the most complete playoff performance of his career in game 5 to 26 points, 12 templates and a win for an exhausted Celtics team.

It wasn't striking. It was coarse -grained, determined and deeply personal. Just 48 hours after he had lost his all-star runmate, Brown played like an obsessed man. For Celtics fans it was a memory of who is Jaylen Brown – resilient, loyal and built for the moment.

Rating this week

ESPN reports that Brown will be rated this week to determine whether surgery is required. If he goes under the knife, he could go into the next season and have a dramatic impact that the plans for the offseason plans have an impact on Boston's Offseason.

While Brown's long-term prospects remain positive, any delay in his return-like that from Tatum's Achilles Reclosement Pair-Brad Stevens could arrange for the squad to be constructed on the way in 2025–26.

Celtics confronted with an unsafe off -season

The Celtics not only manage injuries – they stare at the restrictions, contract decisions and the aging depth.

Tatum is probably out for the entire season. Brown could miss the time. Kristapaps Porzingis continues to deal with a viral disease that made him ineffective in this off -season. And Al Horford and Luke Kornet are both free agents. As a result, important decisions for Jrue Holiday, Porzingis and the general financial future of the team will be present.

Nevertheless, Celtics fans know who leads the show. Brad Stevens has repeatedly proven that he can turn under pressure, adapt and build. If there is a way to keep Boston competitive while he is preparing for a return in full strength in 2026, he will find it.

Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist who covers the NBA for heavy.com and focuses on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics and Los Angeles Lakers. Previously, he wrote for Fansmed, NBA Analysis Network and Last Word on Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins