Jaylen Brown on improved mental, physical health heading into Celtics playoffs

BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has every right to be tired. He just finished his fifth straight regular season with over 60 games played and averaged his most minutes per outing since the 2022-23 campaign. His usage increased as well, but the five-time All-Star is still going strong and feels ready for the tough road ahead. Physically, Brown is definitely better off than he was at the end of last season. The longest-tenured Celtic played through a partially torn meniscus during the 2025 NBA Playoffs and had to undergo surgery after the C's were eliminated by the New York Knicks in six games. Those issues don't seem to be plaguing Brown anymore, as he was in high spirits when asked about his overall health prior to a Wednesday morning practice at the Auerbach Center.

Jaylen Brown said he’s feeling much better health-wise heading into the playoffs: pic.twitter.com/tCRdIw3xVI

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 15, 2026 "I feel a lot different than I did going into last year, mentally and physically," he said. "So I'm grateful for that." In just four days, Brown and company will take on either the Philadelphia 76ers or the Orlando Magic (depending on who prevails in a Wednesday night Play-In Tournament game between the two) at TD Garden in the first round of the playoffs. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP looks forward to that and has enough postseason experience to know it's foolish to predict exactly how things will go. "It's still going to be a journey in itself," Brown said of the upcoming series. "So I don't have any expectation. My expectation is to come out and just be (the) best I can for my team every single night." Full first-round schedule is out for the Celtics.

Pretty standard schedule, but worth noting the two days off between Game 2 and 3: pic.twitter.com/AzQFIF5Gr1

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 15, 2026 From October to April, Brown put together an impressive, reliable regular season. He averaged a career-high 28.7 points per game and consistently led the Celtics on both ends of the floor. Brown's tenth season was arguably his best, and it served as proof that he is continuing to enhance his game — even as he approaches 30 years old. "I feel like I’m still getting better," he stated. "For some, that may be hard to believe. But I’m still improving, I’m still getting better. I’m still learning, I’m still growing." Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire:  iTunes:  YouTube:  *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jaylen Brown feels mentally and physically ready for Celtics playoffs*