Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown played the final stretch of the NBA season — including the entire postseason — with a partially torn right meniscus, during the final month of the 2024–25 NBA season and the Eastern Conference semifinals, ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Saturday.
According to the report, Brown had been managing the knee injury since March, when he began receiving pain injections to stay on the court. That might be the only reason his game was visibly less explosive than in 2024, when he was named Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP.
The news confirms weeks of speculation around Brown’s health, as he appeared to lack his usual explosiveness during Boston’s playoff run. Despite the injury, Jaylen Brown didn’t miss a single postseason game and still averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game, playing a critical role in the Celtics’ short-handed effort.
The injury had previously been labeled by the team as “right knee posterior impingement.” Brown is expected to be evaluated this week to determine if surgery is needed, per Shelburne.
The injury was not made public until after the Celtics’ season ended with a Game 6 loss to the New York Knicks on Friday night. Jaylen Brown, who had noticeably modified his playing style during the postseason, acknowledged postgame that he was battling physical limitations.
“I don’t make excuses,” Brown told reporters via ESPN after the game. “Obviously, it’s tough the way we went out like tonight, but the way we finished the year, personally, the way I finished the year, persevering through some physical stuff that I was battling through, I’m proud of our group.“
Evaluation and Possible Surgery
Jaylen Brown is expected to be evaluated this week to determine whether knee surgery is necessary, sources added. There is currently no official timeline for his recovery, but a partial meniscus tear typically requires weeks to months of rehab depending on severity and treatment path.
This update adds to a growing list of Celtics injuries that plagued the team’s playoff run. Jayson Tatum was ruled out after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Game 4 against New York. Jaylen Brown kept Boston’s season alive in Game 5 with a standout performance: 26 points, eight rebounds, and a playoff career-high 12 assists.
Also, Kristaps Porzingis was reportedly battling lingering effects of an illness that had impacted his conditioning over the last few months.
Brown’s knee issues date back to March, when he missed six games over a 13-game span and sat out the final three games of the regular season. After a loss to the Miami Heat on April 3, Jalen Brown admitted to dealing with consistent knee pain, though he insisted he would continue to play through it reported by NBC Sports Boston in early April.
“I’ve had to come to grips that every night I’m not gonna feel my normal self,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean I still can’t make plays and things like that. So, it’s just something that we are working through.“
Jaylen Brown Played Through Pain to Lead the Celtics
Jalen’s injury was reportedly serious enough to limit certain explosive movements, prompting changes in how he attacked offensively. Still, the 27-year-old guard pushed through to stay available for Boston’s playoff push, raising questions about long-term impact versus short-term competitiveness.
Despite playing through a meniscus tear, Brown’s commitment never wavered. His presence on the court became even more vital after Tatum’s injury, and he assumed a larger role on both ends of the floor, especially in the series against the Knicks, where his Game 5 performance was arguably his best of the season.
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The Celtics now head into an offseason clouded by uncertainty. Jaylen Brown’s pending surgery decision, Jayson Tatum’s long-term recovery, and a roster that may undergo retooling leave Boston Celtics with more questions than answers. A timeline for Brown’s recovery remains unclear, and the team has yet to comment on whether surgery is the preferred option.
Still, Jalen Brown’s grit and leadership stood out.
With offseason decisions looming, Brown’s health status will be one of the top storylines for Celtics management. If surgery is required, his availability for training camp or early regular-season action in 2025–26 could be in jeopardy.
Jaylen Brown Shares Emotional Message After Celtics’ Elimination
The Boston Celtics’ 2025 NBA title defense ended in heartbreak Friday night, as they were eliminated by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. A 119-81 blowout loss in Game 6 at Madison Square Garden brought their season to a close, and for star forward Jaylen Brown, the defeat felt deeper than just basketball.
“Losing to the Knicks, you know, feels like death.”
Jaylen Brown after being eliminated from playoffs pic.twitter.com/ikD6mLRGmj
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 17, 2025
“Losing to the Knicks, you know, feels like death,” Jaylen Brown said postgame, dressed in all black at the podium.
The Celtics, who returned 11 players from their 2024 championship roster, came into the playoffs with championship expectations. They dominated the regular season, setting the NBA record for most made three-pointers (1,457) and tying the record for most in a single game (29). Boston also finished ninth in the league in 3-point percentage at 36.8%.
But those numbers didn’t carry over to the postseason.
In this series against the Knicks, the Celtics shot under 30% from three in three of their four losses — a complete drop-off for a team built on perimeter firepower. Their offensive identity collapsed at the worst possible time.
Still, there were moments of hope. After Jayson Tatum’s injury in Game 4, Boston responded with a gutsy Game 5 win behind Jaylen Brown’s dominant performance, forcing a Game 6 back in New York.
But in Game 6, Brown’s night was cut short. He scored 20 points before fouling out in the third quarter, and with Tatum sidelined and Brown out, the Knicks capitalized, outscoring Boston by 38 in the second half.
Jaylen Brown didn’t hold back during his postgame press conference. The pain of the loss — and of losing Tatum to a season-ending injury — was still raw.
“I was always taught that there’s life after death, so we’ll get ready for whatever’s next.“
His words carried weight not just for Celtics fans but for the league as a whole.
The Celtics’ high-octane offense, once fueled by historic three-point shooting and depth, failed when it mattered most. Their core remains elite, but as Brown noted, there’s life after death — and in Boston, the path forward begins now.
Speaking to reporters in a somber post-game interview, Jaylen Brown—Boston’s 2024 NBA Finals MVP—opened up about his personal battles throughout the season.
Brown: “Personally, I had some stuff that I was persevering through.”
Has repeated that it just wasn’t the Celtics’ year.
— Bobby Manning (@RealBobManning) May 17, 2025
“Personally, I had some stuff that I was persevering through,” Jaylen Brown said.
“This journey’s not the end. It’s not the end for me,” Brown added. “You just take this with a chin up… it looks gloomy right now with JT being out… but there’s a lot to look forward to… I want the city to feel excited… This is not the end.”
The defeat not only ended the Celtics’ shot at a repeat NBA title but marked one of the franchise’s worst postseason performances in recent memory.
Salary Cap Squeeze Looms Over Offseason
With Jayson Tatum out indefinitely due to a ruptured Achilles, Brad Stevens and the Boston front office face a pivotal offseason. The Celtics are deep into the NBA’s second apron, and their projected payroll and luxury tax could surpass $500 million if they bring back the same core.
Adding to Boston’s uncertainty is their bloated payroll heading into the 2025-26 season. According to Spotrac, the Celtics are projected to be around $107 million over the cap, putting pressure on the front office to consider tough decisions involving key contributors.
There had already been internal discussions about cutting costs by moving on from expensive rotation players such as Al Horford or Jrue Holiday. Now, Brown’s meniscus injury only intensifies the uncertainty around Boston’s roster construction heading into next season.
Rumors have circulated that the Celtics might explore trading Jaylen Brown, especially with teams like the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs reportedly interested in acquiring a veteran Finals MVP in exchange for young talent and draft picks.
A meniscus injury isn’t likely to slow down trade discussions, especially for teams that see Brown as a high-impact scorer still in his prime.
Whether Jaylen Brown is back next year as the Celtics’ focal point or moved in a blockbuster deal, his 2025 playoff run—played through pain and uncertainty—will be remembered as a display of grit. But it also underscores just how fragile championship windows can be in the NBA.
Despite the blowout loss, Brown struck an optimistic tone about the franchise’s future.
“I want the city to feel excited… This is not the end.”
As the Celtics head into a pivotal offseason, the focus shifts to how the organization will respond—with financial decisions, medical updates, and on-court leadership all in flux. For now, Jaylen Brown’s admission and resilience serve as a reminder: the end of a playoff run doesn’t always mean the end of a story.
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