The Boston Celtics have stayed in the fight at the top of the Eastern Conference, even without their All-NBA superstar Jayson Tatum.
Entering Monday night's clash with the East-leading Detroit Pistons, the Celtics have the fifth-best record in basketball at 26-15. A major reason for Boston's staying power has been the play of their other star, Jaylen Brown, whose career year has brought with it the reward of being named an All-Star starter.
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Next month, Brown will be one of the starters at the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. It's his fifth All-Star appearance, but his first as a starter -- a designation driven by his first-place ranking in votes placed by NBA media members, as part of the league's composite process that also includes fan and player input.
Jaylen Brown was ranked 1st among media, 3rd among players, and 5th among fans. Pic.twitter.com/PHa5pyXcVA
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) January 19, 2026
Brown this season is averaging 29.7 points per game and 49.1 percent shooting. Without Tatum in the lineup, his usage rate has skyrocketed to a career-high 36.9 percent -- and he has handled the increased workload masterfully, doing his part to keep the Celtics hanging around toward the top of the East.
Boston is holding out hope that Tatum can return from his Achilles tear in time for a playoff run in the spring. With a healthy Tatum, and Brown playing the best basketball of his 10-year career, the Celtics will have plenty of reasons to be optimistic about another championship run come April.
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