The Boston Celtics have secured their spot in the playoffs, owing to yet another campaign achieving 50 victories.
Quite respectable for a “gap” year, as per Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics’ prominent player jested about those who expressed reservations about the 2025-26 squad in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, taking to social media to express his views following Boston’s postseason-securing 114-99 triumph against the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday night.
“50 wins in a gap year ☘️,” Brown penned.
50 wins in a gap year ☘️
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) March 30, 2026
Brown was absent from Sunday’s game, missing a second consecutive match due to left Achilles tendinitis. However, that scarcely impeded a Celtics squad which has now secured three straight victories (including one versus the league’s top team, the Thunder), seven triumphs in its last eight outings, and achieved the 50-victory milestone for the fifth consecutive campaign.
Numerous individuals questioned its feasibility when the season commenced, given Tatum’s recuperation from a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained during the previous May’s playoffs and key players such as Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis having been dealt during the inter-season period.
Nevertheless, with Brown at the helm amid a season resembling that of an MVP candidate, Boston has been arguably the most unexpected revelation in the league and now stands as a credible championship contender now that Tatum has regained his fitness.
Their triumph over the Hornets formally secured the Celtics’ postseason berth for a twelfth consecutive campaign, prolonging the NBA’s current longest unbroken run. And Tatum was chiefly commendable, as he tallied 32 points, his peak performance in 11 games since his comeback earlier in the current month.
He executed pivot jump shots off one foot, outmaneuvered adversaries to the hoop during drives, performed an impressive two-handed slam, and created clear scoring opportunities for his colleagues following the attraction of double-team defenses, all the while consistently demonstrating composure and deliberation throughout his play.
“I didn’t feel like I was sped up,” Tatum informed journalists in Charlotte. “I was still was kind of tired, so that’s something I’m still working through. But I like that I’m being decisive in my movements and exploding when I need to (and) reacting. Obviously it helps when you make shots. I can say I feel better than I did last game. Hopefully I feel better in the next game than I did today.”
Tatum established himself as the youngest athlete in Celtics history to attain the 14,000-point milestone.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be on some really good teams, be surrounded by some really good players and coaches on the staff that have empowered me and helped me become the player I am today,” he remarked.
However, he’s more content simply engaging in basketball once more with high proficiency after an arduous recovery regimen. The Celtics also share this contentment. They possess a 9-2 record since his comeback to the court.
“I’ve had to work my (tail) off just to run up and down the floor,” Tatum stated.
Data sourced from ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this article.