Jaylen Brown's Knee Clouds Celtics Playoff Hopes

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown faces lingering concerns about a right knee injury as the 2025 NBA Playoffs begin, having required painkilling injections and rest at the end of the regular season. Although Brown has avoided discussing details, head coach Joe Mazzulla and teammate Kristaps Porzingis have expressed optimism about his readiness, citing full participation in practice without limitations. Porzingis, leveraging his own injury experience, privately advised Brown to prioritize recovery, which led Brown to sit out the last three regular-season games. Despite public confidence from teammates and coaches in Brown's preparation, insiders caution that his knee remains the Celtics' biggest uncertainty. Boston opens the playoffs against the defensively-strong Orlando Magic as they pursue back-to-back NBA titles. Brown's health is widely seen as critical to the Celtics' championship hopes.