When Jayson Tatum went down with an Achilles tendon rupture in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season, the Boston Celtics' NBA title defense went with him. Most expected that the Celtics' 2025-26 season would be flushed down the drain too, as Boston awaited their All-NBA forward to return.
But after 31 games this season, the Celtics are third in the Eastern Conference with a 19-12 record. It is a development that few outside of Boston's locker room saw coming, especially after the Celtics began this season 0-3.
MORE: Jaylen Brown just tied Larry Bird's all-time Celtics record with insane points streak
While Tatum has been out, Jaylen Brown has stepped up to play some of the best basketball of his career.
In year 10, Brown is averaging 29.7 points per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the floor for the first time. Not only is he a lock to make his fifth All-Star team, but Jeff Teague suspects that the quality of Brown's performances will earn him his first All-NBA nod at the end of the season.
On the Club 520 podcast, Teague argued that Brown has a better first-team All-NBA case than Luka Doncic, the NBA's leading scorer at 33.7 points per game. The former All-Star argued that Doncic is playing on a superior roster with the Los Angeles Lakers relative to who has been surrounding Brown in Boston.
"They have nothing over there (in Boston)," Teague said. "The Celtics were supposed to be a--, bro. I'd give it to him over Luka."
Jeff Teague says Jaylen Brown Deserves to be first team all NBA over Luka
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) December 29, 2025
“He deserves to be 1st team not gonna lie… They have nothing over there. The Celtics were supposed to be a** bro”
(Via @club520podcast) pic.twitter.com/uBTiKFqXBB
The Celtics' offseason roster churn saw Boston move on from Jrue Holiday, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis after they lost Tatum for the season.
For Teague, Brown standing out in those circumstances and putting Boston on track for 50 wins is worth one of the NBA's highest individual honors.
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