In a city that considers anything less than a championship a failure, it would be easy to write off the Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 season as a wasted one.
For those living under a rock, that’s because an Achilles injury sustained by superstar Jayson Tatum during last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals set off a chain of events that greatly reshaped the team’s roster. For his part, Tatum has inspired Boston’s fanbase with the pace of his rehabilitation and has hinted at becoming the first NBA player to return from such an injury the following season.
But even if the five-time All-NBA player does defy the odds and return by the end of the regular season or a potential playoff run, Boston’s roster is a far cry from what it looked like when the team won its record 18th championship just two seasons ago.
So is the 2025-26 season a wash for Celtics fans? Not so fast.
With Tatum likely sidelined for much of the season, President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens opted to make the difficult decision to deal away staples of Boston’s 2024-title run in order to get under the second apron of the league’s salary cap. It’s complicated, but doing so will allow the team to make mid-season acquisitions — at a time of its choosing — and target free agents in ways it otherwise wouldn’t be able to.
The bad news, obviously, is that the Celtics are now without the likes of Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis, and Al Horford, who had been icons in green and white over the last two seasons. And let’s not forget big man Luke Kornet, who adjourned himself to teammates and fans alike with his gritty play and humorous antics.
The exciting part for Celtics fan is the increased role Jaylen Brown will be forced to take on in Tatum’s absence. A four-time All-Star in his own right, Brown is one of the league’s most underrated stars who shines brightest in the face of adversity. Those casting aside the Celtics’ chances this season are likely only adding fuel to the fire for the former NBA Finals MVP.
“I’ve always thought Jaylen was his very best when the challenges were biggest,” Stevens told reporters recently. “He’s thinking about how we can get off to a good start together, assimilate the new guys, talk with our other returners about the responsibility of putting that uniform on, about the competitiveness it takes to compete at the level we want to compete at. And he’s a good example of that. I think that he always thrives when he feels challenged. And I expect that he will thrive.”
Similarly, role players like Derrick White and reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner Payton Pritchard will also be relied upon to accept greater responsibilities, and neither are shying away from the ask. Not to mention newcomers Anfernee Simons, Chris Boucher, Josh Minott, Luka Garza, and Hugo Gonzalez have all shown plenty of promise during the preseason.
There is no doubt that the target that was on Boston’s backs last season as defending champions has worn off. Teams will no longer be marking their calendars when the Celtics are in town.
That being said, the Eastern Conference is wide open. The Indiana Pacers are without their superstar in Tyrese Haliburton, who suffered an injury similar to Tatum. The Philadelphia 76ers have no idea what they have in Joel Embiid — the Celtics are favored to win their season opener against the 76ers by 2.5 points. The Orlando Magic are too young to count on, and the New York Knicks, well, picture Reggie Miller signaling “choke” with his hands wrapped around his neck.
That leaves the Milwaukee Bucks with their own embattled superstar and questionable chances. All of this is to say 2025-26 likely isn’t a year where any one team will run away with the Eastern Conference.
Anything can happen. It’s why you play the games.
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