Jaylen Brown entered the season with a bigger spotlight than he expected. With Jayson Tatum sidelined as he works to return from a torn Achilles, the former No. 3 pick needed to carry Boston through a difficult stretch. Brown has embraced that responsibility and delivered one of the strongest starts of his career.
NBC Sports Boston’s Chris Forsberg highlighted the most surprising part of Brown’s rise, per NESN. “It’s the highest output in the league, far ahead of even midrange-loving Kevin Durant,” Forsberg wrote. “But Brown has been thriving in that spot. He’s shooting 56 percent from the long midrange and 51 percent on midrange shots overall.” The shots that once felt risky now look automatic.
Brown Leads the League in a Zone Built for SGA and KD
Brown sits atop the NBA in one of the most unexpected categories. He takes 31.3 percent of his attempts from the long midrange area, which stretches from 14 feet to the three point line. No player uses that space more often and no player has punished defenses from that range with similar consistency.
That zone usually belongs to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander or Kevin Durant. Gilgeous-Alexander carved his reputation inside the arc while most of the league chased threes. At All-Star weekend last season, he spoke about why he leans into that skill, USA Today reports. “My favorite players growing up were Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson,” he said. “They shot a lot of mid-range. For me, it was just part of the game. It was a skill set, a weapon, and I try to implement it.”
Brown’s efficiency has rivaled that level of mastery. He has hit 44 of his 79 long midrange attempts and created a clean look almost every time he rises into the air. Forsberg noted how frequently those shots look pure. Brown’s footwork keeps defenders off balance and allows him to get to the same window again and again.
Jaylen Brown has the most midrange makes in the NBA this season and he’s shooting 53.2% on those shots…
On pace to have the highest TS% of his career on the most PPG of his career. Helping lead BOS to a top 10 offense. Impressive he’s gained efficiency as a number 1 option. pic.twitter.com/FfMP9Fhm9H
— Basketball University (@UofBasketball) November 14, 2025
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He entered Thursday averaging 27.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 31.6 minutes per game. He also owns a career-best field goal percentage and has produced his strongest free throw shooting since joining the league. His three point shooting sits at .361, which is also his highest mark since his first All-Star season in 2020-21.
Why Brown’s Leap Matters for Boston’s Future
The Celtics entered the year with little outside belief. Tatum’s injury limited expectations. Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford now play elsewhere. Three rotation players are 23 or younger. The roster no longer resembles the group that pushed for deep playoff runs.
Yet the team has stayed afloat. They sit near .500 with two losses that came down to a single possession, per Pro Football Network. Those results do not match the standards of recent years, but they reflect a group that battles every night despite major obstacles.
Boston can also measure the year with a different lens. Brown finally has the space to function as the top option. He has proved he can generate efficient offense, draw attention from every level of the defense and stay aggressive in high traffic areas. That matters if Tatum’s recovery forces a long-term shift in their hierarchy.
Young wings Josh Minott, Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh have also taken on meaningful development. Their growth fits an era where teams must prioritize affordable talent around their highest-paid stars.
The Celtics also hold their own 2026 first round pick. Where that pick lands could define the next version of this roster. In the meantime, Jaylen Brown continues to deliver at a level that places him beside the best midrange creators in the league, even the ones who built their names in that space.
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