Bob Cousy questions whether Jaylen Brown can lead Celtics to success

Jaylen Brown will get his alternative to shine because the Celtics’ lead star this upcoming season with Jayson Tatum possible set to overlook nearly all of the 12 months on account of his Achilles tear. Nevertheless, one franchise icon isn’t positive Brown is up for the problem.

Bob Cousy doesn’t consider that Brown will be capable to lead Boston very far within the upcoming season.

“In my judgment, Jaylen will not be fairly on the famous person degree that Tatum is at,” the legendary Celtics level guard told The Boston Globe‘s Dan Shaughnessy. “Can he carry the load by himself? I see a significant rebuilding effort right here. Jaylen actually gained’t carry them to the promised land . . . [Derrick] White’s an excellent participant and he’ll produce and he’ll be constant, however his sport doesn’t lend itself to carrying a crew.”

Cousy’s take that the Celtics will wrestle with out Tatum isn’t precisely earth-shattering, because the injured star has been named first-team All-NBA within the final 4 seasons. However his implication that Boston may wrestle to make the postseason as a result of Brown isn’t adequate is likely to be seen as a little bit of a harsh evaluation of the Celtics’ different prime star.

Brown, who gained Finals MVP in 2024, is a four-time All-Star and has was a perennial 20-plus-point-per-game scorer himself. The Celtics additionally weren’t unhealthy with out Tatum final 12 months, going 8-2.

After all, the Celtics posted that report after they had Jrue Vacation, Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet on the roster. With all 4 gamers departing or showing more likely to go away this offseason, Boston’s depth has taken a blow, with the not too long ago signed Chris Boucher showing to be its beginning middle come opening evening.

Brown can also be rehabbing from an damage. He underwent surgical procedure to restore a meniscus tear earlier within the offseason, however he’s anticipated to be prepared for the beginning of the 2025-26 season.

Cousy, who turned 97 on Saturday, stays extremely opinionated, particularly concerning the Celtics. In his interview with Shaughnessy, Cousy believes Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla did a “good job” this previous season. Nevertheless, he questioned Mazzulla’s strategy of their second-round loss to the Knicks, saying he had “no understanding of how the Celtics may collapse, particularly towards the [expletive] Knicks.”

“I just like the three as a weapon, however not as the primary [expletive] choice,” Cousy mentioned. “It’s all the time going to be there for you. It’s not one thing it’s a must to create. You’re going to have it once you need it. So why get rid of the opposite choices?

“I do know we’re into analytics. I can’t battle with the pc, however I do know what I skilled. And in my judgment, there are advantages to attacking the basket first. I’ll go to my grave disagreeing with Danny [Ainge] and Brad [Stevens] about this. Clearly the coaches they rent share that philosophy. In order that’s what we’ve received.”

The Celtics set a number of NBA 3-point data in 2024-25, together with 3-pointers made and tried by a crew in a single season. Though their 3-point shot was a power for a lot of the season, it got here to chunk the Celtics of their second-round loss to the Knicks. They shot 30 p.c or worse from deep in three of their 4 losses, with their offense going chilly for lengthy stretches of their defeats in Video games 1 and a pair of.

Now, the Celtics may have to get scorching from deep in 2025-26 to assist account for the 26.8 factors per sport (Tatum’s scoring common final season) that they’ll be with out, together with making up for his or her different losses this offseason. As Boston might need an extended 12 months forward, Cousy does really feel some sympathy for one member of the group.

“This poor new proprietor [Bill Chisholm] should be shell-shocked,” Cousy mentioned. “The minute he signed on the dotted line, the poop began to hit the fan. All the pieces that might go mistaken for that franchise just about did. I hope he’s not having purchaser’s regret. I feel he’s snakebit.”