With Jayson Tatum sidelined due to a long-term ACL injury, the Boston Celtics are entering the 2025–26 season with a new face at the helm, and Jaylen Brown is stepping into that role with both some humility and humor. In a recent interview with Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Brown reflected on the weight of leadership and the evolving dynamics within the team.
“Old head hurts,” Brown joked, acknowledging his status as one of the more seasoned players on a roster that has undergone significant changes. At 28, the four-time All-Star is now the Celtics’ longest-tenured cornerstone, tasked with guiding a younger squad through a season of uncertainty and opportunity.
“I come to work every day trying to share my experiences, my basketball knowledge,” Brown said. “And also thinking about how I can bring the most out of everybody around me and my teammates, how to make them better, as well as trying to perform at my highest level.”
Jaylen Brown laughed when asked by @GwashburnGlobe how it feels to almost be one of the team’s “old heads.”
“Old head hurts.”
Then, more seriously, he explained why it’s an honor to be in a leadership position:
“I come to work every day trying to share my experiences, my… pic.twitter.com/zNsHKdnhtV
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) October 13, 2025
Brown’s comments come at a pivotal moment for Boston. With Tatum’s recovery timeline still unclear and key veterans like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis no longer on the roster, the Celtics are leaning heavily on Brown to be both a vocal leader and a consistent on-court force. His expanded role includes mentoring younger players like Jordan Walsh and J.D. Davison, while also anchoring the team’s offensive and defensive schemes.
This isn’t the first time Brown has been asked to lead, but it’s the first time he’s doing so without Tatum by his side. The duo has long shared the spotlight in Boston, often sparking debates about who the true alpha is. Now, with Tatum out, Brown has the chance to silence those debates and prove he can carry the franchise solo.
