After Boston’s stunning playoff exit and Tatum’s Achilles injury, LeBron James offers a brutally honest take on the Celtics’ mindset.
The Boston Celtics came into the season looking like a juggernaut, and for most of the year, they were.
But after a 61-win regular season, a No. 2 seed in the East, and back-to-back Finals appearances, the defending champions were eliminated in the second round by the New York Knicks. Now, with Jayson Tatum sidelined by a torn Achilles and the Celtics’ title defense in ruins, even LeBron James is weighing in.
And his comments weren’t exactly soft.
“Sometimes they get a little bored because of how great they are,” LeBron said on a recent episode of Mind the Game.
“Not only them two as individuals, Tatum and Brown, but as a team, sometimes it looks like they get bored.”
The remark was part praise, part warning — a recognition of Boston’s talent, but also a jab at their inconsistent energy and focus.
“They are who they are. This is years and years and years — they’ve punched their 10,000 hours,” LeBron added.
“I don’t want to say they get bored of the process, but… sometimes it seems like they do.”
Tatum’s Injury Changed Everything
LeBron’s comments came shortly after Jayson Tatum was ruled out for the season with a torn Achilles suffered in Game 4 against the Knicks. The injury ended his 2025 playoff run just after dropping 42 points in a heroic performance and left Boston reeling.
Without Tatum, the Celtics struggled to generate offense and fell in six games, despite Jaylen Brown’s efforts to carry the load.
The loss puts renewed focus on Boston’s core and whether they’ve plateaued after years of postseason battles.
LeBron Respects Their Greatness — But Questions the Fire
LeBron didn’t attack Tatum or Brown directly, in fact, he acknowledged their greatness and work ethic. But his phrasing, “get a little bored”, suggests a team that sometimes loses its edge, not because of weakness, but because of how comfortable they’ve become with success.
And coming from someone who’s stayed locked in across 22 NBA seasons, the message hits different.
What’s Next for Boston?
The Celtics’ short-term future is cloudy. Tatum’s Achilles recovery will likely stretch into next season. Jaylen Brown, fresh off his Finals MVP the year before, may need to shoulder a larger role again. And the team’s identity, built around cohesion and two-way versatility, may need to evolve.
LeBron’s remarks may sting, but they also reflect a larger truth: in today’s NBA, even greatness can’t afford to coast.