Jaylen Brown played the final month and a half of the season with a partially torn right meniscus, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
After the Celtics were eliminated by the Knicks in Game 6 of their second round series on Friday, Brown told reporters that he’s been playing through knee pain since the playoffs began.
“Obviously, it’s tough the way we went out like tonight, but the way we finished the year, personally, the way I finished the year, persevering through some physical stuff that I was battling through, I’m proud of our group.”
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Brown posted 22.2 points and 34.3 minutes per game in the regular season and still managed to play an important role for Boston in the postseason, averaging 22.1 points and 36.5 minutes per game. He will be evaluated this week to see if he will undergo surgery on his knee.
Here’s what to know about Jaylen Brown’s partially torn right meniscus.
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Jaylen Brown injury update
The Celtics announced on Friday that Brown was playing with a partially torn right meniscus during the final months of the season. Brown reportedly began receiving injections for the injury in March and missed the final three games of the regular season.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown wasn’t just playing through pain during the playoffs, he finished the season with a partial meniscus tear, sources told ESPN. He’ll be evaluated this week to determine whether surgery is necessary. https://t.co/SDnccZClIO
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) May 17, 2025
The Celtics were crushed by injuries to key players in the postseason as they tried to repeat as NBA champions. Kristaps Porzingis battled illness throughout the Knicks series, and Boston lost Jayson Tatum to an Achilles tear late in Game 4. He is expected to miss most, if not all, of next season.
Jaylen Brown recovery timeline
A decision on whether Brown will need surgery is going to depend on the type of tear to his meniscus. In any case, if it is only partially torn, his recovery timeline should be between 4-6 weeks.
After Joel Embiid was ruled out for the season with a completely torn meniscus in February, The Sporting News reached out to medical expert Dr. Michael S. George of the KSF Orthopaedic Center in Houston to clarify the terminology surrounding these injuries.
George said that the recovery after a partial meniscectomy is much more predictable, as the patient can walk without crutches immediately after surgery and return to normal basketball activities shortly thereafter.
There will be clarification on whether Brown will opt for surgery or rest and recovery when he is evaluated later this week.
