With Jayson Tatum's return up in the air, Jaylen Brown's opportunity to shine as Boston's No. 1 option has arrived.

Boston Celtics' Jaylen Brown during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game, Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, in Amherst, Mass.

Last season, Brown averaged 22.2 points, 4.5 assists, and 5.8 rebounds. With all of the injuries plaguing the Eastern Conference, Brown should be a top-five player in the conference.

Even Jaylen Brown. A year removed from a title and still in his prime, Brown has become the subject of a surprising rumor involving a Western Conference team few expected to enter the mix.

May 16, 2025; New York, New York, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) warms up before game six in the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.