Boston Celtics News

Home

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Jan 1, 2026; Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown (7) signals for a replay after getting fouled out during the fourth quarter at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images

‘No Ceiling’ Celtics Playing With House Money As NBA Season Ramps Up

Originally posted on Stadium Rant | By Michael Pezone | Last updated Jan 3, 2026 3:07 PM ET

Well, with the holidays now in the rear-view mirror, the real NBA season has finally begun.

With 30-plus of the regular-season’s 82 games now in the books, teams — for better or worse — have a pretty strong sense of what they’re made of. And in Boston, where five-time All-NBA selection Jayson Tatum remains sidelined as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, this year’s team appears to be made of a whole lot.

It was supposed to be a season of hardships. Growing pains, frustrating losses, and hope that — if nothing else — maybe the pain of the 2025-26 season would lend itself to a favorable pick in the NBA Draft. What’s transpired, however, has been an odds-defying ascension to third place in the Eastern Conference standings, led by a legitimate MVP candidate in Jaylen Brown and an overachieving cast of newcomers.

“We will not put a ceiling on this group,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told reports in December. “If it makes sense for us to look for things that can help us, we certainly will. But it all has to be within good deals, and it all has to be within the ultimate goal, which is the North Star of retooling so we’re in a position to compete for what we want to compete for.”

For the NBA’s most winningest franchise, that means championships. And in Boston, a bid for banner 19 may not have to “wait ‘til next year,” as many analysts suggested.

Snubs Aside, Brown Dominate For Celtics

Leading the way in green and white has been Brown, who isn’t exactly being shown much love around the league for his stellar play. Despite finally making his way onto the NBA’s “Kia MVP Ladder,” which ranks contenders for the year-end award, Brown was snubbed when it comes to Player of the Month honors for December.

The four-time All-Star, who was named Player of the Week twice in December, was overlooked for the monthly award in favor of Knicks guard Jalen Brunson. The shocking part is that Brown bested his Eastern Conference foe in points (31.7 to Brunson’s 30.6) and rebounds (6.5 to Brunson’s 3.2) per game, while leading his Celtics to fewer losses — three to New York’s four — over the month.

In response to the NBA’s announcement of the award on X, Brown reposted the news with the caption “Smh,” for “shaking my head.”

Surprising Depth A Boost For Celtics

Boston’s climb to third place isn’t all because of Brown, though. The team’s cast of newcomers, including Anfernee Simons, Luka Garza, Josh Minott, and Hugo Gonzalez, have all made their impacts felt in their first season with the Celtics. The later, Boston’s first-round pick from Spain in last year’s NBA Draft, has been a defensive juggernaut for the coach Joe Mazzulla’s squad. Similarly, Garza has added an equally impressive boost off the bench, averaging 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in Boston’s last six games.

Dec 11, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla calls a play in the second quarter against the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Simons, for his part, finished with four three-pointers and 14 points in Boston’s most recent win over the Sacramento Kings. Meanwhile, the Celtics’ typical cast of characters in Derrick White, Payton Pritchard, and Sam Hauser, have only continued the consistent play fans have come to expect.

End Of My Celtics Rant

Boston didn’t necessarily expect to have a target on its back this season considering Tatum’s injury and key departures from the team that won it all in 2024. Nonetheless, Mazzulla’s expectation that his players out hustle their opponents has established an identity in this year’s team that’s hard to overlook.

When team’s take on the Celtics, they know they’re in for a fight. As fans, you can’t ask much more than that.

As for the rest of the season, injuries in both conferences continue to suggest this year’s run to the title may look very different than those of years past. Last year’s champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder, are clearly the favorites at 3-5. But beyond that, no other team comes off as overpowering.

It’s a long season and anything can happen. But for now, Celtics fans have reason to remain hopeful.

This article first appeared on Stadium Rant and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: