The Boston Celtics are the winningest franchise in the NBA today. What started with their first championship in 1957, after Bob Cousy took home the MVP that season, turned into sheer dominance as the franchise won five straight championships from 1959 to 1963.
The 1963 season marked the end of Cousy’s career, as he walked away with six championships and 13 All-Star appearances.
As the ‘Hardwood Houdini’ turned 97 this Saturday, he had plenty of championship experience and wisdom to share. While Jaylen Brown might have been the protagonist of the Celtics’ 2024 triumph, for which Cousy also received a ring, the Celtics legend remains skeptical about his upcoming role as a lone star.
What Did Bob Cousy Say About Jaylen Brown?
Speaking to the Boston Globe on his birthday, Cousy discussed the Celtics’ conference semifinals loss to the New York Knicks and the Celtics’ overreliance on the 3-point shot, among other things. When asked if he believes Brown can carry the Celtics this season as Jayson Tatum recovers from his ruptured Achilles, Cousy provided a rather blunt response.
Celtics legend Bob Cousy on Jaylen Brown with Jayson Tatum out:
“In my judgment, Jaylen is not quite at the superstar level Tatum is. Can he carry the load by himself? I see a major rebuilding effort coming.”
(via @BostonGlobe) pic.twitter.com/rvrtKLwa90
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) August 9, 2025
“In my judgment, Jaylen is not quite at the superstar level that Tatum is at,” Cousy said. “Can he carry the load by himself? I see a major rebuilding effort here. Jaylen certainly won’t bring them to the promised land.”
When rivals L.A. Lakers won their 17th title in 2020, the urgency for another chip was at an all-time high in Boston. Although the Celtics’ rebuild granted them two stars in Brown and Tatum, who brought home the coveted 18th title, the Finals MVP being awarded to Brown sparked comparisons between them.
As Tatum will remain sidelined for the majority of the 2025/26 season with an Achilles tear, Boston is aggressively attempting to get out of the luxury tax bracket and acquire pieces that help them win upon the forward’s return. This strategy seems to have Cousy’s backing with his apparent lack of faith in Brown.
What Caused the Celtics’ Playoff Exit According to Cousy?
Like a true Celtic, Cousy was disappointed with the Celtics’ loss to the “f–king Knicks” in the postseason. Not considering New York a contender, Cousy blamed the loss on the over-reliance on three.
“I like the three as a weapon,” Cousy says. “But not as the first [expletive] option. It’s always going to be there for you. It’s not something you have to create. You’re going to have it when you want it. So why eliminate the other options? I know we’re into analytics. I can’t fight with the computer, but I know what I experienced. And in my judgment, there are benefits to attacking the basket first. I’ll go to my grave disagreeing with Danny [Ainge] and Brad [Stevens] about this. Obviously the coaches they hire share that philosophy. So that’s what we’ve got.”
When Tatum went down in Game 4 against the Knicks, the Celtics lost not only one of their best 3-point shooters but also the engine of their offense. Tatum is a three-level scorer and excels at creating his own shots. With a lethal drive in his repertoire, Tatum can attack the basket strongly, causing defenses to collapse and freeing up his teammates.
While Brown and the Celtics benefited from Tatum’s gravity, the Duke alum’s absence immensely affected the team’s spacing and left head coach Joe Mazzulla scratching for answers.
Brown continued his consistent performances in Games 5 and 6. However, without his running mate beside him, there was only so much he could do before they crashed. This upcoming season will be the biggest of Brown’s young career, as questions over his stardom are likely to pile up in the absence of JT.
