Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, the team announced Wednesday on social media.
"Jaylen Brown today underwent a successful right knee arthroscopic debridement procedure," the Celtics' post to X read. "He is expected to participate in training camp without limitation."
As the post explains, Brown is set to be ready to go when training camp starts this September.
Jaylen Brown's injury loomed large for the back half of the Celtics' season
The 28-year-old Celtics star had been battling the injury for quite some time, according to last month's report from ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. She revealed that Brown had been receiving pain-numbing injections into his knee since March, as he continued to battle through the partial tear.
Shelburne's report was the first time that the diagnosis was made public, but it was clear that Brown was playing through pain. Late in the season, the 2024 Finals MVP didn't look like himself. He was playing inconsistent basketball and didn't have the same sort of athletic burst.
The Celtics fanbase was clamoring for Brown to take time off to try and recover, but the star knew that rest would only do so much. His plan was to try to get used to the pain and adjust his game to a style where he'd still be effective once it was time for the playoffs.
“I was in some pain today, but just pushing through it,” he told reporters after an April 2 loss to the Miami Heat. “Trying to find ways to still be aggressive and add value to the team. But just something I’ve got to work through and manage.”
In hindsight, it feels like Brown handled this in the best way for both himself and the team. Boston's playoff run didn't go the way many had hoped, but there were plenty of other factors besides the four-time All-Star's partial meniscus tear.
Kristaps Porzingis was neutralized mainly by a lingering illness, Jayson Tatum ended up rupturing his Achilles, and there were stretches where the entire team just flat out went ice cold.
Would it have been ideal to have Brown playing at 100%?
Absolutely.
Going back and watching his highlights from the 2024 playoffs made it obvious how hurt he was this spring. It was like watching a completely different player.
There were hardly any explosive bursts to the rim and no dunks through traffic.
Nonetheless, Brown still had moments this year. He stepped up big time in games where Tatum was sidelined. He poured in 36 points in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Orlando Magic, and then logged a near-triple-double in Game 5 of the second-round series vs. the New York Knicks.
Brown's warrior mentality was on full display.
Even while playing through the serious injury, JB still averaged 22.1 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game while shooting 44.1% from the field and 33.3% from deep in the playoffs.
His health is going to be pivotal for the Cs if they have any hope of staying afloat while Tatum recovers next season. Brown will face the challenge of being the team's true No. 1 for the first time in his career, which he will undoubtedly relish.
