Speaking to The Boston Globe, Bob Cousy delivered a blunt assessment of Jaylen Brown’s ability compared to Jayson Tatum’sJaylen Brown (Image Credit: Imagn)
The Boston Celtics are bracing for a challenging 2025-26 season. The team’s star forward, Jayson Tatum, is expected to miss the entire campaign following the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. With Tatum sidelined, the weight of leading the team now falls heavily on Jaylen Brown’s shoulders.

However, Celtics legend Bob Cousy isn’t fully confident in Boston’s prospects if Brown becomes the focal point. Speaking to The Boston Globe, the Hall of Famer delivered a blunt assessment of Brown’s ability compared to Tatum’s.

“In my judgment, Jaylen [Brown] is not quite at the superstar level that [Jayson] Tatum is at. 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 said.

While Cousy was critical, he acknowledged Brown’s undeniable talent and recent success. JB was pivotal in Boston’s 2024 title run, winning the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards. However, Cousy meant that excelling alongside a star like Tatum is different from shouldering the entire franchise.

Celtics Confident In Jaylen Brown’s Leadership

Jaylen Brown Jaylen Brown (Image Credit: Imagn)

The Celtics team is seemingly very confident with Jaylen Brown’s potential. Celtics president Rich Gotham expressed his strong belief in Brown’s leadership during an interview with CLNS Media’s Boston Sports Network. Gotham highlighted the importance of leadership at every level within the team and praised Brown for stepping up as a true inspiration.

“It’s important for all the players to be a leader in whatever role you’re in. And JB is an inspirational leader for the team. He has been. I think he’s the vet. I think that other players will look to him to set a tone. The thing I always appreciate about JB is he’s got a nice, healthy chip on his shoulder,” Gotham said.

Like Tatum, Brown also played his whole career with Boston. He has been with the team since 2016. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game.