Reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown missed the Boston Celtics’ latest game against the Memphis Grizzlies because of a right knee impingement. Brown’s knee issues have been bothering him for some time, and are something he recently admitted to reporters he will need to manage throughout the remainder of the season ( via Noa Dalzell of SB Nation).
For the Celtics to have the best chance at repeating as NBA champions, they will need Brown to be at full strength. These knee issues are not good news for Boston this late in the season, as they could potentially extend into the playoffs.
The Celtics don’t have much to worry about in terms of their playoff seeding. They already have the No. 2 seed wrapped up and likely won’t catch the Cleveland Cavaliers for the No. 1 seed. However, Brown’s health looms large.
With the Celtics’ upcoming game against the Miami Heat on Wednesday, the team named Brown in their injury report, revealing that he is questionable because of the same right knee posterior impingement that held him out of their previous game.
If Brown is out again, it could very well be precautionary on the Celtics’ end, especially as the season winds down. Boston certainly wants to ensure it has a healthy team when the playoffs begin later this month.
Brown is a four-time All-Star, an All-NBA recipient, and the reigning Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP. The Celtics could keep the ship afloat without him for the rest of the regular season, but will need him at his healthiest in the playoffs.
