Celtics legend directs scathing remark at Jaylen Brown

Celtics legend directs scathing remark at Jaylen Brown originally appeared on The Sporting News

The Boston Celtics, despite their recent success, are likely going to look like shells of themselves for most of the 2025-26 season, as they will be without their leading scorer Jayson Tatum.

Tatum, a six-time All-Star and four-time All-NBA First Teamer, ruptured his right Achilles tendon during the Celtics' Eastern Conference semifinals series against the New York Knicks this past May. The timing and severity of the injury made his outlook for the next season bleak, though he has reportedly looked good thus far in his recovery.

The Celtics have a number of high-quality players who can make up for Tatum's missing contributions, including Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, Al Horford and the newly-acquired Anfernee Simons. But if Brown remains the focal point of the team's offense, one franchise legend believes next season will not be a successful one.

Bob Cousy, who played predominantly in the 1950s and sporadically in the 1960s, knows more about winning titles than most players who have graced a basketball court. Cousy finished his career with six NBA championships, including five in a row with the Celtics from 1959 to 1963.

In a conversation with Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe, Cousy expressed pessimism about the possibility of the Celtics winning a championship with Brown as the team's leader.

"In my judgment, Jaylen is not quite at the superstar level that Tatum is at,” Cousy said. “Can he carry the load by himself? I see a major rebuilding effort here. Jaylen certainly won’t bring them to the promised land."

Cousy also does not appear to have much faith in Derrick White should he adopt a similar role.

"Derrick White’s a good player, and he’ll produce, and he’ll be consistent, but his game doesn’t lend itself to carrying a team.”

Brown, a four-time All-Star in his own right, has proven that he can perform in the clutch. He was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP after averaging 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game across five contests, all while defending the Dallas Mavericks' top offensive player in Luka Dončić.

But for the Celtics to win a second ring in three years, Brown will likely have to shoulder some extra weight over the course of an 82-game regular season.