<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/exclusive-how-blake-griffin-aided-celtics-star-jayson-tatum-achilles-rehab');   ga('set', 'title', 'Exclusive: How Blake Griffin has aided Celtics star Jayson Tatum in his Achilles rehab');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jayson-Tatum-and-Blake-Griffin.jpg"><figcaption>David Butler II-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Exclusive: How Blake Griffin has aided Celtics star Jayson Tatum in his Achilles rehab</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T08:57:30-08:00">December 12th, 8:57am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T08:57:30-08:00">December 12th, 8:57am</time><address><a>Daniel Donabedian</a>Daniel Donabedian is a beat reporter for ClutchPoints covering the Boston Celtics. He's also covered Villanova men's basketball and Big East basketball, building a strong reputation in the northeast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Six-time NBA All-Star Blake Griffin knows what it’s like to be on top of the basketball world. He also understands how it feels <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/detroit-pistons/blake-griffin-health-early-concern-pistons">to have injuries unjustly knock you off that apex</a> when you least expect it. For those reasons, Griffin can relate to his former teammate, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, more than most people.</p><p>In an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints, Griffin revealed that he’s been in contact with <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-7-word-message-achilles-injury-rehab">Tatum, who ruptured his Achilles in May</a> and hasn’t played since. Although they <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-blake-griffin-turned-down-celtics-retirement">shared the court together for only the 2022-23 season</a>, they’ve maintained a bond and still text regularly, especially during Tatum’s rehab.</p><p>“I’ve talked to him a lot over this process,” Griffin told ClutchPoints during an interview for <a href="https://www.wayfair.com/" rel="noopener">Wayfair</a>. “I’ve just checked in like every, I don’t know, couple weeks — 2, 3, 4 weeks, something like that.”</p><p>Over the course of Griffin’s Hall of Fame career, which went on for more than a decade before ending in Boston, the former no. 1 overall pick missed plenty of games due to lingering knee issues. They delayed his start in the NBA and arguably fast-tracked his retirement.</p><p>He remembers how isolating it was to be sidelined for an extended period of time.</p><p>“I dealt with a lot of injuries, and being away from the team or just rehab can be extremely tedious, but I think it can also be lonely,” he recalled. “I think that’s what people don’t realize.”</p><p>Prior to his devastating Achilles injury, Tatum had never really missed many games — even before he was in the Association. So, the 27-year-old was left reeling from the gruesome moment that shocked both the Celtics and their loyal fans.</p><p>“Why me, dad?” <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-message-to-father-after-achilles-injury">Tatum asked his father</a> following the season-ending injury, per ESPN’s Marc J. Spears. “Why does this have to happen to me?”</p><h2><b>What advice has Blake Griffin shared with Jayson Tatum?</b></h2><p>There’s no good answer to those questions, but Griffin was determined to help the fellow six-time All-Star get through his ordeal and come to terms with what happened to him.</p><p>“One thing I talked to him about is whenever I got injured I give myself like 24 hours to feel sorry for yourself and be like, ‘This sucks. Like, I can’t believe this is happening,'” Griffin revealed. “Then after that, no more feeling sorry for yourself. You just put your head down and 100 percent of your mental and physical, and whatever other energy you want to call it, goes into getting better.”</p><p>Tatum has clearly listened to his former vet, as he’s been at the Auerbach Center (Boston’s practice facility) nearly every day trying to get better — with practically no complaints to be heard.</p><p>“It looks like, from from the videos I’ve seen and just talking to him, he’s had a unbelievable outlook on it,” Griffin praised. “And also that’s translating to physically, him looking great already at this point of this rehab stage.”</p><p>On Tuesday, the recovering star shared a video of him going against Celtics assistant coach Tony Dobbins in one-on-one drills. The very next day, Tatum was seen getting shots up at practice and looking a little more mobile than usual.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jayson Tatum getting some shots up: <a href="https://t.co/UJYzHar6yC">pic.twitter.com/UJYzHar6yC</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1998798485647405376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Nearly everybody surrounding Tatum, whether it’s his current teammates or coaches, have made it clear that he’s progressing well. Griffin agrees, yet he doesn’t want him to get lost in that feeling, as it’s a long road back that’ll typically present a few more unexpected obstacles.</p><p>“We’ve talked a decent amount, and my message to him was just like, ‘Dude, it sounds cliche, but it’s truly one day at a time,'” he told Tatum. “And you just can’t get too high or low with how you’re feeling. Because one day you’ll try a new exercise and rehab and it’ll feel great. You’ll be like, ‘Oh, man, yes, I made a step today.’ And then the next day you’re sore and you can’t do that same exercise, or whatever it may be. So just having that even-keeled attitude when it comes to rehab.”</p><p>It seems like Tatum has taken this advice to heart as well. He’s literally been counting the days since his injury occurred and used that as a motivating benchmark:</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="fr">6 months✅</p><p>— Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaytatum0/status/1983228040831180850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 28, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><h2><b>Does Blake Griffin think Jayson Tatum should play this season?</b></h2><p>The most popular question in Boston remains, though. Can Tatum come back and play this season?</p><p>Griffin didn’t want to definitively say when Tatum should or shouldn’t return to play. However, he did outline the potential benefits of a longer recovery process.</p><p>“There’s a lot of information on Achilles and all other sorts of injuries, but especially Achilles injuries, where, the longer you wait — like, yes, you may be able to play within, call it 10 months,” he said. “But does 16 months give you a much better chance at not re-injuring and not injuring something else? And I think the data on that is very clear. As good, as much fun as the Celtics are to watch this season, as good as they’ve been, I don’t know that if I was advising him — I don’t know that I would be like, ‘Yeah, you got to get back this year.'”</p><p>The Celtics are 15-10 to start the 2025-26 regular season and have won seven of their last 10 contests. That’s good enough to put them in third place in the Eastern Conference, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/many-thought-celtics-would-tank-without-jayson-tatum-they-actually-east-contenders">which is a lot higher than most people would’ve ranked the undermanned C’s</a> through 25 games.</p><p>Injecting Tatum into a talented starting lineup that’s already shown major growth this season is enticing for Boston. The Celtics’ go-to guy has <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-strongest-ever-declaration">implied he wants to take the court again as soon as possible</a>, so an early 2026 return can’t be completely ruled out.</p><p>“If it’s something he wants to do mentally,” Griffin began while discussing Tatum playing this season. “Just to be like, ‘Hey, I did it. I put in all this work, and I’m going to go play 20 minutes in a game here, there.’ I don’t know that I could tell him he’s wrong to do that.”</p><p>Obviously, Griffin doesn’t want Tatum to have his career disrupted by injuries. And given what Griffin went through during his time in the NBA, it’s easy to see why he might have a more cautious outlook on injury timelines.</p><p>“But when you’re thinking about the Boston Celtics and from here on out…when you’re him and you’re thinking about the rest of his career, I think it’s probably probably smart to not (return early),” Griffin opined.</p><p>The future Hall of Famer clarified that it’s not his place to truly judge Tatum’s decision, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-joe-mazzulla-bottom-line-jayson-tatum-injury-return">a sentiment shared by Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla</a>. Griffin has witnessed Tatum’s work ethic and hunger firsthand, and he trusts in him to be ready whenever he does choose to suit up in the green and white again.</p><p>“I’m not in the weight room every day,” Griffin emphasized. “I’m not in the training room every day. I don’t know exactly where he’s at, so that’s truly only a question he can answer.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Exclusive: How Blake Griffin has aided Celtics star Jayson Tatum in his Achilles rehab

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-eager-to-use-cap-space-to-facilitate-trades');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA Rumors: Nets ‘eager’ to use cap space to facilitate trades in return for draft assets');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/USATSI_19122180-e1755050187964.jpg"><figcaption>Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA Rumors: Nets ‘eager’ to use cap space to facilitate trades in return for draft assets</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-12T08:35:58-08:00">December 12th, 8:35am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-12T08:39:03-08:00">December 12th, 8:39am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-nets-michael-porter-jr-cam-johnson-trade-nuggets">Brooklyn Nets spent the offseason using their cap space</a> to add to their league-leading chest of draft picks. Their strategy hasn’t changed as the trade deadline approaches.</p><p>With an NBA-best $15.3 million in cap space remaining, the Nets are <a href="https://marcstein.substack.com/p/lots-of-the-nbas-latest-trade-talk" rel="noopener">preparing to help more teams</a> shed unwanted contracts in return for draft assets.</p><p>“The Nets are said to be eager to use leftover salary cap space from the summer to facilitate trades by absorbing salary in the quest to accumulate more future draft assets,” NBA insider Marc Stein wrote.</p><p>Brooklyn General Manager Sean Marks burned through over $40 million in cap space this summer in four separate salary dump trades.</p><h2>Nets preparing to leverage cap space in more trades ahead of deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sean-Marks-ii.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Nets absorbed Terance Mann, Michael Porter Jr. and Haywood Highsmith’s contracts in trades with the Atlanta Hawks, Denver Nuggets and Miami Heat. They received the No. 22 pick in the draft, which they used to select Drake Powell, as well as an unprotected 2032 first-round pick from Denver and a 2032 second-round pick from Miami.</p><p>Brooklyn also acquired Kobe Bufkin’s expiring contract from Atlanta for cash considerations, but waived the guard before the season.</p><p>Following their busy offseason, the Nets have an NBA-best 12 first-round picks and 18 second-round picks over the next seven years. With the deadline two weeks away, they remain in a position to accumulate more assets by helping teams clear their books or facilitate larger trades.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-and-celtics-could-revisit-anfernee-simons-trade">The Boston Celtics are expected to shop Anfernee Simons</a> as they attempt to dip below the luxury tax. Boston and Brooklyn discussed numerous trade scenarios involving Simons this summer. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers and Orlando Magic also have unwanted contracts they could look to shed to avoid the tax.</p><p>With <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/6-trades-based-on-latest-nba-rumors-giannis-antetokounmpo-anthony-davis-ja-morant">a large portion of the NBA preparing bids for Giannis Antetokounmpo</a>, Brooklyn could be a third team in numerous frameworks to help match salary. The Utah Jazz are the NBA’s only other team with cap space, with $10.6 million available.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA Rumors: Nets ‘eager’ to use cap space to facilitate trades in return for draft assets

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-joe-mazzulla-bottom-line-jayson-tatum-injury-return');   ga('set', 'title', 'Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla delivers bottom line on Jayson Tatum’s injury return as rehab ramps up');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jayson-Tatum-and-Joe-Mazzulla.jpg"><figcaption>Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla delivers bottom line on Jayson Tatum’s injury return as rehab ramps up</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-10T10:30:07-08:00">December 10th, 10:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T10:30:07-08:00">December 10th, 10:30am</time><address><a>Daniel Donabedian</a>Daniel Donabedian is a beat reporter for ClutchPoints covering the Boston Celtics. He's also covered Villanova men's basketball and Big East basketball, building a strong reputation in the northeast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>BOSTON — The Boston Celtics are streaking, as they’ve won <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clutchpoints-2025-26-nba-power-rankings-week-7-thunder-dominance-celtics-rise">five games in a row and are 8-2 in their last 10 contests</a>. That’s good enough to put the 15-9 C’s in third place in the Eastern Conference, making their playoff prospects feel much more real than they did coming into the season. And if Boston continues these winning ways as it approaches the postseason, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-jaylen-brown-celtics-dominance-warning-eastern-conference-jayson-tatum-back">the chatter surrounding Jayson Tatum’s injury return will grow</a>.</p><p>Since the undermanned Celtics have shown they’re already capable of beating Eastern Conference contenders like the New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, and Detroit Pistons without Tatum, fans are starting to imagine what this scrappy team would look like with a six-time All-Star healthy. Tatum has increased this chatter by <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-1-on-1-video-injury-return-buzz">participating in one-on-one drills</a> and posting “soon” next to trainer Nick Sang, possibly alluding to a return to action.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jayson Tatum wishes his friend and trainer Nick Sang a happy birthday 🎂 </p><p>He also shared some optimistic messages:</p><p>“Soon 🤞”</p><p>“Gotta do this again,” he captioned a photo from the Celtics parade</p><p>(Via <a href="https://twitter.com/jaytatum0?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaytatum0</a> on IG) <a href="https://t.co/B7qjV4olNZ">pic.twitter.com/B7qjV4olNZ</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1998145500340789303?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Of course, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-7-word-message-achilles-injury-rehab">Tatum, who suffered a ruptured Achilles in May</a>, won’t be coming back in 2025. As for the end of the 2025-26 season, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said that significant decision lies with his star forward and the people he trusts.</p><p>“It’s all up to him,” Mazzulla replied when asked about the chances of Tatum playing this season. “At the end of the day, his health is the most important thing. His process is the most important thing. You trust him, you trust the team that’s around him — we got a great team. And you just kind of go from there. It all starts with where he and his team think he’s at.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Joe Mazzulla on Jayson Tatum’s progress and potential return:</p><p>“It’s all up to him…all starts about where him and his team think he's at. To me, the only thing I care about is his presence, his leadership.” <a href="https://t.co/6MCr5Vxf3z">pic.twitter.com/6MCr5Vxf3z</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1998802135404945809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>One of the few certainties regarding Tatum’s return is that <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-promises-make-return-achilles-injury-home">it will happen at TD Garden</a>. The 2024 NBA champion said so himself, and given the fact that he’s been training 24/7, it’s clear he wants to take the court again as soon as possible.</p><p>Although some doctors and other staffers may advise against a speedy homecoming, Mazzulla admitted that he won’t be the one to hold Tatum back.</p><p>“I’m not going to do anything,” Mazzulla stated. “There are people above me who are responsible for that. It’s not my job. My job is to just support him, be there for him, listen to him.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jayson Tatum getting some shots up: <a href="https://t.co/UJYzHar6yC">pic.twitter.com/UJYzHar6yC</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1998798485647405376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Mazzulla has been by Tatum’s side for some of the most important moments of his rehab. In return, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-applauds-jayson-tatum-extra-coach-while-out">Tatum has been like an extra coach</a> on the Green Team’s staff, instructing the younger C’s during games and practices.</p><p>“To me, the only thing I care about is his presence, his leadership,” Mazzulla said. “He’s doing that in different ways, he’s on the bench for games, communicating with the guys in the film session, he’s traveling with us.”</p><p>Whether or not the Celtics will attempt to work Tatum into the starting lineup as the season progresses remains to be seen. But regardless of Tatum’s health status, Mazzulla is grateful to work alongside a player as dedicated as him.</p><p>“At the end of the day, he’s on our team,” Mazzulla emphasized. “He’s a part of our team. He’s helping us get better. And everything else comes down to him and the people around him, and you just trust that.”</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics’ Joe Mazzulla delivers bottom line on Jayson Tatum’s injury return as rehab ramps up

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-1-on-1-video-injury-return-buzz');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jayson Tatum 1-on-1 video will have Celtics fans clamoring for injury return this season');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Celtics-star-Jayson-Tatum-at-courtside-in-Timberwolves-game.jpg"><figcaption>Matt Blewett-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jayson Tatum 1-on-1 video will have Celtics fans clamoring for injury return this season</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-10T09:30:14-08:00">December 10th, 9:30am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T09:30:14-08:00">December 10th, 9:30am</time><address><a>Yasmin Edañol</a>Yasmin D.G. Edañol is a PhD candidate in Chemistry at the University of the Philippines Diliman, with a background in scientific research and publishing. He brings a data-driven perspective to sports storytelling as an Associate Editor at ClutchPoints, with a focus on the NBA. Whether it's breaking down a clutch play or a stat line, he believes every great moment has a deeper layer waiting to be uncovered.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-strongest-ever-declaration">Boston Celtics felt a surge of life this week</a> as new footage from their practice facility lit up social media.<a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-adds-achilles-return-noise-dunking-video"> Jayson Tatum sent Celtics fans buzzing</a> as his <a href="https://x.com/MrBuckBuckNBA/status/1998571906308649310" rel="noopener">fired-up</a> 1-on-1 work hinted at an injury return that suddenly feels real. His footwork looked sharp and his balance looked clean. More importantly, his confidence looked real. For a team battling through the season without its anchor, this was the kind of clip that flips the mood and reminds everyone what his presence does the moment he steps on the floor.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jayson Tatum playing some 1v1s at the Celtics practice facility <a href="https://t.co/L09wf9qWlt">pic.twitter.com/L09wf9qWlt</a></p><p>— MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrBuckBuckNBA/status/1998571906308649310?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 10, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/many-thought-celtics-would-tank-without-jayson-tatum-they-actually-east-contenders">The Celtics have managed to stay afloat at 15–9</a>, holding the third seed in the Eastern Conference, but the absence feels larger than the record shows. Tatum’s scoring, spacing, and calm in tight possessions are missing. His presence changes the room. His rhythm changes the court. And with every clip that leaks, belief grows.</p><h2><b>A glimpse of what’s coming for the Celtics</b></h2><p>This video wasn’t just a workout. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-browns-jayson-tatum-rehab-update-have-boston-fans-fired-up">It was a message for the Celtics</a>. Tatum looked light on his feet. He created separation with ease. He elevated with confidence. For a player recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, those movements matter. They’re the small checkpoints that tell coaches, teammates, and Celtics fans that the climb back is real.</p><p>Reports have floated that Tatum, a four-time All-NBA First Team selection, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-rumors-chris-haynes-believes-jayson-tatum-return-this-season">may be tracking toward a January return</a>. That timeline would land eight months after the injury, a mark that signals discipline, patience, and relentless work behind the scenes. And now, with on-court battles rolling into the public eye, optimism hits differently. The arena lights feel closer. The noise feels louder.</p><p>The Celtics won’t rush him. They can’t. But they also can’t deny what this looks like: a star edging toward the finish line of rehab and the starting gate of a comeback.</p><p>If Jayson Tatum completes his injury return this season, what new ceiling could he unlock for a Celtics team waiting to erupt?</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jayson Tatum 1-on-1 video will have Celtics fans clamoring for injury return this season

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-nets-and-celtics-could-revisit-anfernee-simons-trade');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA Rumors: Nets and Celtics could revisit Anfernee Simons trade before deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_0262.jpeg"><figcaption>Winslow Townson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA Rumors: Nets and Celtics could revisit Anfernee Simons trade before deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-10T07:56:52-08:00">December 10th, 7:56am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-10T08:04:00-08:00">December 10th, 8:04am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/buy-or-sell-latest-nba-intel-trade-rumors-ja-morant-anthony-davis-domantas-sabonis">NBA rumor mill is beginning to churn</a> with the trade deadline approaching. A recent report involving the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets could foreshadow things to come. The Celtics and Nets <a href="https://www.hoopshype.com/story/sports/nba/2025/11/26/title-nba-intel-ja-morant-timberwolves-kings-celtics/87477567007/" rel="noopener">discussed several trade scenarios</a> involving Anfernee Simons before the season that ultimately fell through, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto.</p><p>The report shouldn’t come as a surprise, given both teams’ motivations this summer. Following Jayson Tatum’s Achilles tear, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jrue-holiday-anfernee-simons-trade-blazers-catch">the Celtics spent their offseason slashing their monstrous payroll</a> and setting themselves up for the future. Meanwhile, the Nets focused on leveraging their league-leading cap space to accrue assets as they move forward in their rebuild.</p><p>Both sides maintain those motivations ahead of the deadline, opening the door for them to resume trade talks.</p><h2>Will Nets and Celtics partner on Anfernee Simons trade before deadline?</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Egor-Demin-1-1.jpg"><figcaption>Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>After trading Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis this summer, the Celtics are still $12 million above the luxury tax. Ducking the tax this season and next would allow Boston to reset the repeater tax, a penalty levied on teams that were taxpayers in three of the last four seasons. Teams in the repeater get taxed at significantly higher rates the deeper they spend above the threshold, making roster-building difficult.</p><p>Given this, it’s advantageous for the Celtics to attempt to reset the repeater tax as they re-tool their roster around Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Trading Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract is their most logical route to doing so.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-how-nets-could-be-major-player-2026-trade-deadline">The Nets can offer them the opportunity to do so</a> before the deadline. Brooklyn has a league-leading $15 million in cap space. The rebuilding squad also has four players with salaries around $6 million — Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams and Haywood Highsmith — who can be used as salary-fillers.</p><p>The Nets could send two of those players to the Celtics while taking back Simons’ contract and draft compensation.</p><p>With a glaring hole at center, Boston had interest in Sharpe this offseason, according to Scotto. However, with the Celtics only able to offer a minimum contract, Sharpe re-signed with the Nets on a two-year, $12 million deal.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA Rumors: Nets and Celtics could revisit Anfernee Simons trade before deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/brooklyn-nets/nba-rumors-how-nets-could-be-major-player-2026-trade-deadline');   ga('set', 'title', 'NBA rumors: How Nets could be a major player at 2026 trade deadline');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Sean-Marks.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>NBA rumors: How Nets could be a major player at 2026 trade deadline</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T09:03:50-08:00">December 9th, 9:03am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T09:10:17-08:00">December 9th, 9:10am</time><address><a>Erik Slater</a>Erik Slater is the credentialed Brooklyn Nets beat reporter for ClutchPoints. He's a graduate of Lehigh University and the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University, as well as a Lehigh Football and Syracuse Football alum.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>The <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/buy-or-sell-latest-nba-intel-trade-rumors-ja-morant-anthony-davis-domantas-sabonis">NBA trade deadline is approaching</a>, and the Brooklyn Nets are at the center of leaguewide speculation. With an NBA-high $15.2 million in cap space, the rebuilding squad could once again be a dumping ground for unwanted contracts across the league.</p><p>According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, <a href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47245704/shams-pass-nba-trade-deadline-notes-news-buzz-anthony-davis-giannis-antetokounmpo-teams" rel="noopener">rival teams are eyeing Brooklyn</a> as a trade partner ahead of Feb. 5.</p><p>“The Nets have $15 million in cap space and can create more, which has led to increased trade talks about using their room to absorb salary while receiving assets,” sources told Charania. “The Nets, Pistons ($14.1 million trade exception) and Utah Jazz ($18.4 million trade exception) are the only teams with significant room that can take in larger deals and not be impacted by the apron.”</p><p>General Manager Sean Marks executed four separate salary-dump trades during the offseason. The Nets absorbed Terrance Mann’s three-year, $47 million contract in a three-team trade with the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics. They received the No. 22 pick in the draft alongside Mann, which they used to select Drake Powell.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/grading-nets-michael-porter-jr-cam-johnson-trade-nuggets">Brooklyn also acquired Michael Porter Jr.’s two-year, $79 million contract</a> and an unprotected 2032 first-round pick from the Denver Nuggets for Cam Johnson. Marks then took on Haywood Highsmith’s expiring $5.6 million contract, receiving a 2032 second-round pick in return.</p><p>The Nets capped off the offseason by acquiring Kobe Bufkin from the Hawks for cash considerations. However, they waived Bufkin before the start of the regular season.</p><h2>Why Nets could be one of NBA’s busiest teams at 2026 trade deadline</h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Sean-Marks-i.jpg"><figcaption>Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption></figure><p>The Boston Celtics are a team to keep an eye on as a trade partner with the Nets. Following an active summer, the Celtics are still $12 million over the luxury tax. Anfernee Simons has been a rumored trade candidate as Boston aims to dip below the tax line and reset the repeater tax.</p><p>The Nets and Celtics <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-cam-thomas-beginning-return-play-progression-following-mri" rel="noopener">discussed several trade scenarios</a> involving Simons’ $27.7 million expiring contract this summer, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scotto. Brooklyn has four players with salaries around $6 million (Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe, Ziaire Williams, Haywood Highsmith). The team could send two of those players to Boston while taking back Simons’ contract and draft compensation.</p><p>In addition to potential salary dump deals, Cam Thomas is a likely trade candidate leading up to the deadline. After failing to agree to a contract extension with Brooklyn and signing his qualifying offer, Thomas will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.</p><p>Thomas has been sidelined since Nov. 5 with a left hamstring strain, his fourth in the last year. While the fifth-year guard has a no-trade clause this season, he doesn’t appear to be a part of the Nets’ long-term plans, opening the door for the two sides to work on a trade.</p><p>“Brooklyn could also work with Cam Thomas’ agents at Octagon to navigate his future, potentially via trade, as he plays the remainder of the season on the qualifying offer and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer,” Charania wrote.</p><p>Following a 0-7 start with Thomas in the lineup, the Nets have posted a 6-10 record since his injury. Their defense has improved by 12.6 points per 100 possessions since Thomas went down.</p><p>Meanwhile, Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney have broken out in lead offensive roles without Thomas dominating the ball. Rookies Egor Demin, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf have also shown promise with added on-ball reps.</p><p><a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-cam-thomas-beginning-return-play-progression-following-mri">The Nets announced on Saturday that Thomas has begun on-court work</a> and will have his status updated in two weeks. The 24-year-old will be trade eligible on Dec. 15, although he’ll have to agree to any deal.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

NBA rumors: How Nets could be a major player at 2026 trade deadline

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-brutally-honest-selling-soul-to-be-mvp');   ga('set', 'title', 'Celtics’ Jaylen Brown gets brutally honest on ‘selling soul’ to be an MVP');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Celtics-Jaylen-Brown-pointing.jpg"><figcaption>David Dermer-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Celtics’ Jaylen Brown gets brutally honest on ‘selling soul’ to be an MVP</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-09T08:04:02-08:00">December 9th, 8:04am</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T08:05:57-08:00">December 9th, 8:05am</time><address><a>Brett Siegel</a>Brett Siegel joined ClutchPoints as a credentialed NBA insider and reporter in May 2023 after previously covering the NBA for Fastbreak on FanNation and NBA Analysis Network, as well as working with Louisville Basketball. From playing to coaching to covering the game as a media member, Brett has been involved with the game of basketball from many different perspectives. Breaking the news of various free agent signings, yearly NBA Draft news and other key stories around the league, Brett is always on the phone, getting the latest news and rumors around the NBA. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @BrettSiegelNBA.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jaylen Brown is one of the best wing players in the entire NBA, and he is proving such this season for the Boston Celtics with Jayson Tatum out of the equation. As the Celtics’ lead option, Brown has led his team to a 15-9 record past the quarter mark of the season, and he has suddenly <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/nba-mvp-mondays-celtics-surge-jaylen-brown-joining-top-5">joined the MVP conversation</a> alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, and others.</p><p>Between his scoring and defensive effort, Brown is once again proving to be an All-Star talent in the Eastern Conference, and his leadership is why he is drawing attention in the MVP race.</p><p>However, Brown doesn’t seem to want to be in the same class as those competing for the MVP award, especially since he claims those who want to be the league’s MVP simply “sell their soul” to <a href="https://x.com/UnderdogNBA/status/1998416792474321221" rel="noopener">become the best floppers</a> in the NBA.</p><p>“This new generation, this new era — they’re floppers. If you want to be a great player, you gotta sell your soul. You gotta be a flopper,” Brown said on his recent Twitch stream. “If you wanna be an MVP, you wanna be top of the top, you gotta sell your soul and just be a flopper. Y’all tell me: What do you want me to do? Y’all want me to be on that? I can do it!</p><p>“I can start going to practice and working on, like, throwing my head (back).”</p><p>Of course, Brown is referring to the constant foul baiting many other stars around the league participate in, as some of the highly skilled players constantly in the running for the MVP award are oftentimes referred to as “foul baiters” from NBA fans.</p><p>James Harden notoriously earned such a label during the prime of his career with the Houston Rockets when he was at the forefront of the MVP conversation, and now both Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Luka Doncic have been criticized at times for doing exactly what Brown described.</p><p>Between throwing their head back while driving to the rim or yelling to try and bait the referees into calling fouls, SGA and Doncic are certainly notorious for shooting free throws, as they <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2026_per_game.html#per_game_stats::pts_per_g" rel="noopener">rank first and second</a> in free-throw attempts this season.</p><p>Brown has been in the league since 2016. He has certainly seen his fair share of those who, in his mind, have “sold their soul” to be the best floppers in the league. While he would probably admit that he has flopped at certain times throughout his career, Brown’s mindset is that he doesn’t want this style of play to define the type of player he is.</p><p>The Celtics’ star lets his game speak for itself, and that has been enough this season to put him in the MVP conversation.</p><p>Through 23 games, Brown has averaged 29.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 49.6 percent from the floor and 36.3 percent from 3-point range. His leadership and scoring numbers have put the Celtics in a position to contend this season, and without selling his soul, Brown has certainly become a talking point in the NBA MVP conversation.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown gets brutally honest on ‘selling soul’ to be an MVP

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/toronto-raptors/raptors-news-jaylen-brown-compares-scottie-barnes-ninja-turtle-bizarre-complement');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaylen Brown compares Raptors’ Scottie Barnes to Ninja Turtle in bizarre compliment');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jaylen-Brown-compares-Scottie-Barnes-to-Ninja-Turtle-in-bizarre-complement.jpg"><figcaption>Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jaylen Brown compares Raptors’ Scottie Barnes to Ninja Turtle in bizarre compliment</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-08T20:31:46-08:00">December 8th, 8:31pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-09T07:17:24-08:00">December 9th, 7:17am</time><address><a>Rohan Brahmbhatt</a>Rohan Brahmbhatt is an adventure-driven sports writer, passionate footballer, mountaineer, and photojournalist. Rohan blends firsthand experience with storytelling—capturing the intensity of sport and the thrill of exploration. Whether on the field, a mountain trail, or behind the lens, he brings authentic, high-energy narratives that connect readers to the heart of the action.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Jaylen Brown compares Raptors’ Scottie Barnes to Ninja Turtle in bizarre compliment

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-fires-back-haters-questioned-streaming-hobby');   ga('set', 'title', 'Celtics’ Jaylen Brown fires back at haters who questioned his streaming hobby');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Celtics-Jaylen-Brown-fires-back-at-haters-who-questioned-his-streaming-hobby.jpg"><figcaption>Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Celtics’ Jaylen Brown fires back at haters who questioned his streaming hobby</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-08T15:21:23-08:00">December 8th, 3:21pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-08T15:21:23-08:00">December 8th, 3:21pm</time><address><a>Daniel Donabedian</a>Daniel Donabedian is a beat reporter for ClutchPoints covering the Boston Celtics. He's also covered Villanova men's basketball and Big East basketball, building a strong reputation in the northeast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>When <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-reacts-jayson-tatum-crazy-new-look">Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown announced his desire to start livestreaming</a> on Twitch, <a href="https://x.com/ArkaimiaTV/status/1953922383573565726?s=20" rel="noopener">some fans rolled their eyes</a>. It’s no secret that New England sports fanatics are dedicated and, in turn, want their players to be equally devoted. Some thought this hobby would serve as a distraction for Brown heading into an expected down year for the C’s.</p><p>However, so far, those fans would be wrong on both counts. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/nba-stories/clutchpoints-2025-26-nba-power-rankings-week-7-thunder-dominance-celtics-rise">The four-time All-Star is arguably playing the best basketball</a> of his career. He’s averaging a career-high 29.1 points per outing while shooting almost 50% from the field over 20 games into the regular season. For his efforts, he was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.</p><p>With Brown leading the way, the Celtics are 15-9 and in sole possession of third place in the East — a far cry from an off year. The longest-tenured Celtic has managed this while continuing to livestream on Twitch. In fact, he went live after he helped the C’s <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-why-best-yet-come-knicks-win">exact a little revenge on the New York Knicks</a> last Wednesday and again when the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-reveals-successful-boring-strategy-defeating-lakers">Green Team crushed the rival Los Angeles Lakers</a> on Friday night.</p><p>“They think cause I’m streaming, I’m not locked in,” Brown said on Twitch following the 21-point victory over L.A. “I’m the most locked I’ve ever been in my life. I promise y’all. I’m ready to win, I’m ready to lead. I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win. I want all the smoke — I’m with everything.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jaylen Brown has a message for everybody who questioned his focus when he announced he was streaming:</p><p>“They think cause I’m streaming, I’m not locked in. I’m the most locked I’ve ever been in my life…I’m ready to do whatever it takes to win. I want all the smoke.”</p><p>🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/FCHWPO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FCHWPO</a> <a href="https://t.co/v1gavoLkbB">pic.twitter.com/v1gavoLkbB</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1998082476766544208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 8, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Brown immediately backed up his declaration on Sunday afternoon against the Toronto Raptors. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-gets-real-how-felt-jaylen-brown-winning-nba-finals-mvp">The 2024 NBA Finals MVP</a> dropped a team-high 30 points during the 121-113 road win, marking the 13th time in 23 games that he’s recorded 30 points or more.</p><p>“We’re still going to stream, we’re still going to control the narrative, we’re still going to talk to y’all,” Brown told his Twitch chat. “This basketball s**t comes first, but I’m letting y’all know, we’re going to keep it going. I’m going to be consistent.”</p><p>Nobody can question Brown’s consistency on the court right now, so any fuss about his off-court hobbies seems misguided.</p><p>The Celtics faithful should just enjoy the show, as the former NBA champion is playing at an MVP level.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown fires back at haters who questioned his streaming hobby

ClutchPoints’ 2025-26 NBA Power Rankings Week 7: Thunder continue historic pace, Celtics leap into top 10

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-breaks-scottie-barnes-ankles-nasty-stepback');   ga('set', 'title', 'Celtics’ Jaylen Brown breaks Scottie Barnes’ ankles with nasty stepback');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/USATSI_27767567_168403981_lowres.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Celtics’ Jaylen Brown breaks Scottie Barnes’ ankles with nasty stepback</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-07T17:49:19-08:00">December 7th, 5:49pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-07T17:49:19-08:00">December 7th, 5:49pm</time><address><a>Richard Pereira</a>Richard Pereira joined ClutchPoints in January 2025 as an Associate Editor. He earned his degree from Florida Atlantic University in 2023 and has been covering the school's athletic programs since 2020, having served as a Sports Editor at the FAU University Press. He was granted the unique opportunity to report on the men's basketball team's journey to the Final Four in Houston for FAU Owls Nest during March Madness, consistently striving to grow as a sports journalist.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>Jaylen Brown created a marvelous highlight against Scottie Barnes during the Boston <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-reveals-successful-boring-strategy-defeating-lakers">Celtics’ matchup against the Toronto Raptors</a> on Sunday afternoon.</p><p>Brown is progressing through his 10th season in the NBA, all with the Celtics. This campaign has been unique as he’s embraced the responsibilities of being the top scoring option with Jayson Tatum on the sidelines due to rehabbing from a torn Achilles.</p><p>Brown has impressed throughout the season, putting together another highlight for his mixtape against the Raptors’ Barnes. The play took place midway through the fourth quarter as Brown <a href="https://twitter.com/ClutchPoints/status/1997799967369658738" rel="noopener">pulled off a step back move</a> that caused Barnes to go backwards in an awkward manner. Brown this proceeded to knock down the easy mid-range jumper.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jaylen Brown.</p><p>TOUGH.</p><p>😤</p><p><a href="https://t.co/rzbL8Y2uMP">pic.twitter.com/rzbL8Y2uMP</a></p><p>— Celtics Nation (@CelticsNationCP) <a href="https://twitter.com/CelticsNationCP/status/1997799876265136130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 7, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://instagram.com/embed.js"></script></p></figure><h2><b>How Jaylen Brown, Celtics played against Raptors</b></h2><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/USATSI_27767404_168403981_lowres.jpg"><figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><p>It was an astounding highlight for Jaylen Brown to pull off, leading the Celtics to the 121-113 road win over Scottie Barnes and the Raptors.</p><p>Boston excelled throughout the first half, taking a 77-59 lead at halftime. Even though Toronto fought back to cut the deficit to single digits, the Celtics made enough plays down the stretch to fend off the rally.</p><p>Perimeter shooting and stocks (steals and blocks) made the difference in this matchup. The Celtics prevailed in both categories by making 20 3-pointers and recording 17 stocks. It wasn’t the same for the Raptors as they only made nine triples while having eight stocks.</p><p>Five players scored in double-digits for Boston in the win, including Brown. He dominated with a stat line of 30 points, eight rebounds, five assists, one steal, and a block. He shot 9-of-19 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 9-of-9 from the free-throw line. Derrick White came next with 27 points and five assists, Payton Pritchard had 15 points and six assists, Anfernee Simons put up 12 points and three rebounds, while Neemias Queta provided 11 points and 11 rebounds.</p><p>Boston improved to a 15-9 record on the season, holding the third spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Raptors by 0.5 games and Philadelphia 76ers by one game while trailing the New York Knicks by 1.5 games and Detroit Pistons by four games.</p><p>Rolling with five straight wins, the Celtics will look forward to their next matchup, being on the road. They face the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. ET.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

Celtics’ Jaylen Brown breaks Scottie Barnes’ ankles with nasty stepback

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">    <head>        <script>   (function(i, s, o, g, r, a, m) {     i["GoogleAnalyticsObject"] = r;     i[r] = i[r] || function() {       (i[r].q = i[r].q || []).push(arguments)     }, i[r].l = 1 * new Date();     a = s.createElement(o),       m = s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];     a.async = 1;     a.src = g;     m.parentNode.insertBefore(a, m)   })(window, document, "script", "https://www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js", "ga");   ga('create', 'UA-66147751-16', {     'storage': 'none',     'clientId': localStorage.getItem('ga:clientId')   });   ga(function(tracker) {     localStorage.setItem('ga:clientId', tracker.get('clientId'));   });   ga('set', 'checkProtocolTask', null);      ga('set', 'page', '/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-reveals-successful-boring-strategy-defeating-lakers');   ga('set', 'title', 'Jaylen Brown reveals Celtics’ successful ‘boring’ strategy after defeating Lakers');   ga('send', 'pageview');</script>        <style type="text/css" media="all">            body {    background: transparent;    margin: 0px;}h1, h2, h3 {    color: #DDDDDD;    font-family: "SFUIText-Semibold";    margin: 30px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 21px;    line-height: 125%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}header {    margin: 0px;    height: 0px;    display: none;}p {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 15px 15px 15px 15px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}p > img {    margin-left: -15px;    width: calc(100% + 30px);}a {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;    text-decoration: underline;}ul {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 3px 10px 3px 10px;    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}ol {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    font-size: 17px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.23px;}img {    margin: 0px;    width: 100%;    height: auto;}blockquote {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);    font-family: "SFUIText-Medium";    margin: 30px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 19px;    line-height: 135%;    letter-spacing: -0.41px;}blockquote p {    margin: 0px;}.op-tracker, .op-ad {    display: none;    height: 0px;}article > figure {    margin: 0px;}figcaption {    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.7);    font-family: "SFUIText-Regular";    margin: 10px 15px 30px 15px;    font-size: 13px;}iframe {    width: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;    margin: 0px;    border: 0;}.vine-embed {    height: __SCREEN_SIZE_WIDTH__;}.twitter-tweet, .instagram-media {    margin-left: 15px !important;    margin-right: 15px !important;    width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;}.clutchpoints-widget {    /*margin: 10px 15px 10px 15px !important;*/    /*margin-top: 1px !important;*/    padding-top: 10px;    /*margin-left: 15px !important;*/    /*margin-right: 15px !important;*/    /*width: __SCREEN_CONTENT_SIZE_WIDTH__ !important;*/}        </style>        <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />    </head>    <body>        <article id="mvp-content-main"><header><figure><img src="https://wp.clutchpoints.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Jaylen-Brown-1.jpg"><figcaption>Winslow Townson-Imagn Images</figcaption></figure><h1>Jaylen Brown reveals Celtics’ successful ‘boring’ strategy after defeating Lakers</h1><time class="op-published" datetime="2025-12-06T14:32:40-08:00">December 6th, 2:32pm</time><time class="op-modified" datetime="2025-12-06T14:32:40-08:00">December 6th, 2:32pm</time><address><a>Daniel Donabedian</a>Daniel Donabedian is a beat reporter for ClutchPoints covering the Boston Celtics. He's also covered Villanova men's basketball and Big East basketball, building a strong reputation in the northeast.</address><h3 class="op-kicker">Boston Celtics</h3><figure class="op-ad"></figure></header><p>BOSTON — <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-makes-history-larry-bird-never-could">Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown knows what goes into winning</a>. The 2024 NBA Finals MVP has won at the highest level and has never missed the playoffs in his 10-year career. With all of this experience, he understands that winning can feature everything from clutch buckets that’ll make highlight reels to effort plays that are more about consistency than flash.</p><p>Despite the media buzz that typically surrounds a meeting between the Celtics and their rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, Friday night’s showdown between the two historic franchises was far from memorable. Brown doesn’t mind, though, as the 126-105 blowout victory gave his squad their fourth straight win and laid another building block in <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-joe-mazzulla-silver-lining-shaky-first-13-games">the winning foundation the 2025-26 Celtics are trying to build</a>.</p><p>“Just another game,” Brown said following the wire-to-wire win.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jaylen Brown on his reaction to learning LeBron and Luka were out tonight:</p><p>“Just another game. Obviously, those are great players. It's an honor to compete against those guys, but you know, my job is to go out there and help my team get wins.” <a href="https://t.co/Lp74FL7LWf">pic.twitter.com/Lp74FL7LWf</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1997140686353690954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>Part of the reason the draw for this marquee matchup decreased was the <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-jj-redick-luka-doncic-return-timeline">absence of stars Luka Doncic</a> and LeBron James, who were out due to personal reasons and a left foot injury, respectively. <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/why-jaylen-brown-celtics-dominance-warning-eastern-conference-jayson-tatum-back">Celtics star Jayson Tatum was also out</a>, as expected, given the Achilles rupture he suffered in May, and former Celtics veteran Marcus Smart couldn’t even suit up for the purple and gold <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/los-angeles-lakers/lakers-news-marcus-smart-update-back-injury">because of a lingering back injury</a>.</p><p>All of these factors lowered the expectations for this primetime game. However, none of that changed Brown’s approach.</p><p>“It’s an honor to compete against those guys, but my job is to go out there and help my team get wins,” Brown replied when asked about the Lakers’ multitude of pregame scratches.</p><p>As for Tatum’s absence, <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/many-thought-celtics-would-tank-without-jayson-tatum-they-actually-east-contenders">that didn’t shift Brown’s focus either</a>. From when the Celtics started the season 0-3 to their <a href="https://clutchpoints.com/nba/boston-celtics/celtics-news-jaylen-brown-why-best-yet-come-knicks-win">current four-game winning streak</a>, Brown has kept his expectations consistent.</p><p>“I think the expectation level is always the same, in my brain,” he said. “You know, just come out and compete and maximize our potential and kind of go from there. Don’t focus on the end result.”</p><figure class="op-interactive"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Jaylen Brown on if the expectations are higher for the Celtics now that they’re winning more:</p><p>“I think the expectation level is always the same.”</p><p>“Focus on…winning each possession, being the harder playing team…sounds boring, but that's what builds a really good team.” <a href="https://t.co/RBDUxIBlfw">pic.twitter.com/RBDUxIBlfw</a></p><p>— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) <a href="https://twitter.com/danield1214/status/1997142404910977179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2025</a></p></blockquote><p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></figure><p>This unchanging mentality has perhaps helped the four-time All-Star reach a new level of dependability during the 2025-26 campaign. He posted 30 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists against the Lakers, marking the 12th time this season Brown has scored at least 30 points. He only had nine games of 30 points or more all of last season.</p><p>“Focus on what you control and what’s in front of you, and that’s winning each possession, being the harder playing team, all that good stuff,” Brown said. “Sounds boring, but that’s the type of stuff that leads to building a really good team.”</p><p>From the outside looking in, maybe the Celtics do have a more “boring” team than in previous years. They’re down Tatum, are missing multiple starters from last season, and are largely relying on young, lesser-known players to step up.</p><p>That means the Celtics have had to focus on the margins more than ever to succeed, using an incredibly low turnover rate and impressive offensive rebounding numbers to overcome more talented opponents.</p><p>Friday night’s Lakers lacked talent and heart, so Brown and company took care of business. It’s not a flashy win that’ll circulate on SportsCenter all day, but it will continue to steer the 14-9 C’s in the right direction.</p><p>“We’ve been getting better every single day, and it’s coming together a little bit now,” Brown said. “But we still got a lot of work to do.”</p><p>The Celtics’ work continues on Sunday afternoon against the 15-9 Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena.</p><figure class="op-tracker"></figure></article>    </body></html>

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Celtics News: Get the latest Boston Celtics news, scores, stats, standings, fantasy games, and more from ClutchPoints.

Latest Celtics News

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