The Boston Celtics' 2025 NBA playoff run was marred by adversity as they fell to the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Semifinals after a promising start. The Celtics had defeated the Orlando Magic with ease, but they faced a stunning collapse at home, giving up two 20-point leads. The situation worsened when star forward Jayson Tatum sustained a serious Achilles injury, likely sidelining him for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.

To fill the void left by Tatum, the Celtics have signed Jalen Bridges, a promising forward who played his rookie season with the Phoenix Suns. Although Bridges only averaged 1.1 points per game last season, he demonstrated potential as a shooter during his time at West Virginia and Baylor. The Celtics hope that his shooting ability can integrate well into Joe Mazzulla's system, providing a spark in the upcoming summer league and possibly securing a spot on the roster.