Bob Ryan Questions Jaylen Brown as Number 1 Option, Says Celtics Will Be Fighting for 8th Seed

When Jayson Tatum went down with a torn Achilles on May 12 during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics plans for the coming season took a complete U-turn.

Admittedly, theyll go from being sure-shot contenders to, at best, chasing a playoff spot.

According to Bob Ryan, even that could be a stretch.

Tatum will miss the majority of the 2025/26 season , if not all of it.

That leaves Jaylen Brown as the number one option for Boston, and Ryan, a famed columnist, does not think that aligns with high ambitions.

Brown is a fine player, one who earned the 2024 Finals MVP after the Cs torched the Dallas Mavericks to capture the franchises 18th championship.

But Ryan does not believe he can carry a team the way Tatum has.

The basketball guru and longtime Celtics follower appeared on the CLNS Media Boston Sports Network program and explained why the four-time All-Star will fall short as the teams new frontman.

I like him, hes fine.

Hes a wonderful player.

Theres a level of hierarchy in all sports.

Hes at the next level, the very good level.

But hes not at that level, I dont think.

Just a chance to prove everybody wrong, he stated .

Ryan isnt the only famed Bostonian to say this, either.

Six-time NBA Champion Bob Cousy, who is now 97, expressed his concerns with Brown at the helm, and even wondered if the team would have to go through a major rebuild.

In my judgment, Jaylen [Brown] is not quite at the superstar level that [Jayson] Tatum is at, Cousy told The Boston Globe.

Can he carry the load by himself? I see a major rebuilding effort here.

Jaylen certainly wont bring them to the promised land.

Derrick Whites a good player and hell produce and hell be consistent, but his game doesnt lend itself to carrying a team.

Ryan echoed what Cousy opined and vehemently agreed, predicting that the Celtics will fall much further in the East than anyone is willing to admit, out of the playoffs and into the play-in.

Naturally, theres some blowback from young ins.

Whos the old guy? Whats he talking about? Hes on record now, and I agree with him.

I think theyre going to be lucky to be in that 7/8 mix.

I think theyre going to be fortunate to avoid the Play-In.

I really do, added Jeff Goodman, who conducted the interview with Ryan.

Thats probably right on the money.

The East no longer belongs to Boston as it has for the last decade.

The New York Knicks have improved.

The Cleveland Cavaliers finished in the No.

1 spot and, if they remain healthy, could just as easily do it again.

The Detroit Pistons are finding themselves as a franchise, and the Milwaukee Bucks will always be dangerous as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is there.

Fortunately, Boston has a great coach in Joe Mazzulla.

If there is someone who can figure out how the Brown algorithm works, it would be him.

But unless more major moves are made, there is no indication that the Celtics are getting back to the Finals anytime soon..

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