Celtics star Jaylen Brown speaks out against tanking

Q: What did Jaylen Brown say about tanking in the NBA?

Jaylen Brown expressed that he does not want to be part of tanking and emphasized the importance of competing regardless of circumstances.

Q: How did the Celtics perform during the 2025-26 season despite injuries?

The Celtics finished the 2025-26 season with a 56-26 record, securing second place in the Eastern Conference despite missing star player Jayson Tatum for over 60 games.

Q: What impact did Jaylen Brown's anti-tanking stance have on the Celtics?

Brown's anti-tanking stance contributed to the team's competitive spirit, helping to develop inexperienced players, even though they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

Q: What are the potential consequences of tanking in the NBA according to Jaylen Brown?

Brown believes that tanking rewards organizations for poor performance and undermines the competitive integrity of the league.

Tanking was never an option for the Boston Celtics. Or, at the very least, it would've never been approved by Celtics star Jaylen Brown. Heading into the 2025-26 NBA season, the Celtics were expected to be without star forward Jayson Tatum for a substantial chunk of time as he recovered from an Achilles injury. And while Tatum did eventually come back late in the regular season, he missed over 60 games and left the C's undermanned. However, Boston didn't play like it was shorthanded. The scrappy Celtics posted a 56-26 record and finished in second place in the Eastern Conference.

Apr 26, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) reacts after making a three point basket against the Philadelphia 76ers during the second half at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images Everybody from Brown to Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was determined to compete during the projected down year despite some pundits and fans calling for the Green Team to mail it in for a chance at a lottery pick. "Even a lot of Celtics fans (were) pro-tanking," Brown recalled on his Twitch stream in April. "It is what it is. You forgive, but you never really forget." Brown continued his anti-tanking messaging while taking part in the "State of the Game" video series, which is a roundtable discussion centered around the current affairs of the NBA. "You’re asking me about tanking: I don’t see it in my future, or I don’t want to be a part of it," Brown told his peers. "But it's a crazy league, so I wouldn't be surprised if I have to deal with something like that one day." Since Brown is one of the vice presidents of the NBPA, he's been tasked with weighing tanking and its impact on the league. The longest-tenured Celtic addressed a few possible solutions and mentioned how he's talked to Celtics exec and basketball wiz Mike Zarren about the nagging issue. "The organizations are the ones that are implementing this and then they kind of get rewarded for it," Brown stated. Not tanking worked wonders for the development of many inexperienced Celtics, but it did not result in a championship. The C's were knocked out in the first round by the for their earliest playoff exit since 2021. If the Celtics did lose intentionally, there's no guarantee things would've gone any better. Perhaps they swindle a top pick, or maybe they end up like the , who had the third-worst record in the NBA and great odds to select first overall, yet fell to sixth during the draft lottery. What would've happened to the Celtics if they let the basketball gods and ping pong balls dictate their season will never be known. But, it's safe to say Brown wouldn't have been pleased if his squad went that route, as it's not part of the Celtics winning culture and it goes against what he stands for as a competitor. "I don’t know what to say," Brown replied when asked about tanking. "I’ve never had a losing season." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire: iTunes: YouTube: *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *