The Boston Celtics are entering one of their most uncertain seasons in recent memory. With Jayson Tatum sidelined for the year due to a devastating Achilles injury, all eyes have shifted to Jaylen Brown as the team’s unquestioned leader. But while Celtics fans may hope that Brown can rise to the occasion, a Boston legend, Bob Ryan, isn’t convinced he can carry the franchise to elite status in the East.
Ryan, widely regarded as one of the most respected basketball analysts in Boston sports history, recently offered a blunt take on Brown’s ability to lead the Celtics. Speaking on his podcast, Ryan said:
“I like him, he’s fine. He’s a wonderful player. But I agree, there’s a level of hierarchy in all sports. He’s at the next level, the very good level. But he’s not at that level, I don’t think. Just a chance to prove everybody wrong. That’s no problem… But they’re going to be lucky in that 7–8 mix.”
Ryan’s comments reflect what many analysts around the league have quietly thought for years. While Brown is a consistent 20+ point scorer and four-time All-Star, much of his production has come while playing second fiddle to Tatum.
With defenses now focused squarely on him, the Celtics will find out whether Brown can elevate his game to true superstar status. Ryan, however, doubts Boston will remain among the East’s top six teams, predicting a play-in tournament scenario at best.
While some may find his take on Brown harsh, Ryan has built a reputation for telling uncomfortable truths, even about the teams and players closest to Boston’s heart. Ryan isn’t alone in his skepticism.
Earlier this month, Celtics legend Bob Cousy, a six-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer, also questioned Brown’s ceiling as a franchise centerpiece.
Cousy even predicted that Boston could be headed for a rebuild without Tatum, stressing that while Brown is a gifted player, he lacks the singular dominance to anchor a championship-level team.
The Celtics have been a powerhouse in the East for much of the past five seasons, often finishing near the top of the standings. But with Tatum sidelined, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis gone, and a thinner supporting cast around Brown, the challenge of staying competitive is enormous.
Rising teams like the Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons are improving rapidly, while the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers all boast deeper and more balanced rosters.
Ryan’s prediction of Boston falling into the 7–8 seed range underscores how dramatically the perception of the Celtics has shifted. A franchise that entered last season as championship favorites now faces the prospect of just fighting for a playoff spot.
For Jaylen Brown, this season will define how he is remembered in Boston. Last season, he averaged 22.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game on 46.3 percent shooting from the field and 32.4 percent from three.
Without Tatum, he is Boston’s unquestioned number one option, and he could realistically put up career numbers. The real question is whether those numbers will translate into winning basketball against top competition.
Ryan summed it up best: Brown has a “chance to prove everybody wrong.” Whether he can do so will shape the Celtics’ immediate future and his own legacy in ways that no regular season has before.
