Jaylen Brown's injury sidelines him, costing postseason award eligibility
- Jaylen Brown has been sidelined due to a sore right knee, leading to a rest period before the playoffs.
- The Celtics have prioritized his health, ruling him out for their final regular-season game.
- As a result, Brown will not meet the necessary games played to qualify for postseason awards.
In the United States, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown was ruled out for a game against the Charlotte Hornets due to a sore right knee. This decision came as the NBA playoffs approached, with the Celtics having already secured the second seed in the Eastern Conference. The team prioritized rest for Brown, who has been managing a right knee posterior impingement, and opted to sit him out instead of risking further injury. This move has significant implications for Brown, as it leads to his ineligibility for postseason awards due to falling short of the NBA's required 65-game threshold for awards consideration. Brown's condition is particularly noteworthy as he has been dealing with the knee issue for some time. Despite this, he demonstrated an ability to play effectively, even scoring 31 points in a recent victory over the Phoenix Suns. However, recent performances showed he was limited by the injury, with a subpar outing against the New York Knicks where he scored only six points and committed three turnovers. Therefore, the Celtics' decision to prioritize his health makes sense given the looming playoffs, allowing him time to recover and potentially return stronger for postseason play. As the Celtics look ahead, Brown's absence from the upcoming regular-season finale further cements his ineligibility for awards this season. Having played only 63 games so far, he falls short of the threshold set by the league, which was established two seasons ago to ensure players meet a minimum standard for award contention. While he had been a candidate for All-NBA honors, that possibility is now off the table due to this injury-related absence. Head coach Joe Mazzulla expressed confidence in Brown's ability to manage his injury and return to form. During an interview, Mazzulla emphasized the importance of trusting Brown’s judgment regarding his body and the training staff's support. Brown is expected to use this period of rest effectively, positioning himself for a strong performance in the playoffs and potentially helping his team achieve success despite personal setbacks, including the loss of award eligibility.