Jaylen Brown has been an absolute force in the 2025-26 NBA season, emerging as one of the league’s elite players when the Boston Celtics needed him most.
After Jayson Tatum’s injury derailed last season’s title hopes, many predicted a Celtics step back this year. But Brown has single-handedly flipped the script as Boston’s undisputed alpha, posting monster numbers: 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game.
The two-time All-Star captain earned his fifth career All-Star nod and suited up in the showcase over the weekend. And in a candid media session, Brown dropped a bombshell about life after basketball—hinting at a wild pivot into the world of combat sports.
“To be honest, I’ve toyed with this, and I’ve talked to some people,” Brown revealed. “Maybe in the post-career part of my life, I would love to partake in something like the UFC or even boxing. I’ve talked to [UFC president] Dana White about some stuff. We’ll see how things go.”
At this point, doubting Brown’s potential in anything feels like a fool’s errand. This isn’t his first time floating ambitions beyond the hardwood. Scouts once labeled him “too smart” for the NBA grind. The guy’s a chess master, landed a NASA internship straight out of high school, and became the youngest person ever to deliver a lecture at Harvard.
But right now, Celtics Nation isn’t ready to entertain the “what’s next” talk. Brown’s in the midst of his finest pro season yet, dragging the green machine to the top of the Eastern Conference standings—even without Tatum in the lineup.
Through it all, Brown’s resume already sparkles: one NBA championship, one Eastern Conference Finals MVP, one NBA Finals MVP, and those five All-Star berths. The big question now? How deep can he carry these Celtics in the playoffs… and will Tatum make it back in time to join the charge?
While the fighting bug clearly has a hold on him, Brown’s intellect and leadership make a coaching gig equally intriguing down the line. Then again, with a man of his diverse passions, nothing he chooses post-NBA would come as a shock.