NBA Writer: Jaylen Brown Will Have This ‘Major’ Issue Next Season

With running mate Jayson Tatum expected to miss most, if not all of the 2025-26 season, Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown will face immense pressure to carry the load.

Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes broke down “Every NBA Team’s Biggest Riser and Faller” ahead of the campaign and said he expects Brown to regress in his 10th year in the league.

“Brown’s scoring average dipped to a five-year-low of 22.2 points per game last season. Maybe he’ll beat that number as Boston’s alpha stand-in for Tatum, but Brown is bound to have major efficiency struggles,” Hughes wrote. “A shaky handle, inconsistent three-point shooting and durability issues that make big minutes dangerous (Brown hasn’t played more than 70 games since he was a sixth man in 2018-19) will all be more clearly exposed with less talent surrounding him.”

“JB” has made all four of his All-Star teams in the past five seasons (including three straight honors), but the NBA writer thinks that streak could end in 2026.

“Couple that with opposing defenses treating him like a first option, and Brown might miss his first All-Star game since 2022,” Hughes wrote.

It would be a surprise if Brown isn’t the highest scorer and best player on a nightly basis for the Celtics in the upcoming season, but Hughes’ arguments are valid.

The former third overall pick will turn 29 in October and along with his 22.2 points per game, averaged 5.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 34.3 minutes per contest in 63 games last season. Brown’s shooting numbers have been trending in the wrong direction too, as his .463 field goal percentage in 2024-25 was the lowest since his rookie campaign and his .324 three-point field goal percentage was a career-low.

The former NBA Finals MVP may be among the highest-rated players in NBA 2K26, but in real life, he could take a step back this season.