Similar to yearly, the 2025 NBA Summer time League gave prospects of all types taking part in time to show their value to franchises. For the Boston Celtics, the Summer time League particularly represents a chance to snag gamers on minimal offers for a season set to be extremely transitional in nature.
Within the 5 video games the Celtics performed in the summertime league, solely the 22-year-old Kendall Brown featured every time. The 22-year-old ahead, initially the forty eighth choose of the 2022 NBA Draft, has been a little bit of a journeyman and has performed in 21 NBA video games in his profession to this point.
Brown is a extremely skilled G League participant, having performed for the Lengthy Island Nets earlier than signing a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets in February 2025. The participant was later launched, however his summer season league showings with the Celtics show that he can nonetheless turn into an attention-grabbing position participant, precisely the type Boston could also be trying to guess on forward of an injury-curtailed season.
Kendall Brown can nonetheless make NBA roster after impressing for the Celtics
The athletic 22-year-old ahead has emerged as a critical candidate to make the roster. Brown performed in all 5 Summer time League video games, displaying high-level effectivity, consciousness, and untapped potential regardless of averaging simply quarter-hour per outing.
His stat line of 8.6 factors, 1.8 rebounds and one help per sport doesn’t inform the total story. Brown shot an elite 69% from the sphere and scored in double-digits 4 out of the 5 occasions he performed.
Brown appears to have already got an concept of the tempo within the huge league and seemed snug all through whereas displaying some elite taking pictures potential. His greatest displaying got here towards the Atlanta Hawks, the place he scored 10 factors on 5-of-8 taking pictures, displaying a degree of effectivity the Celtics could make use of within the NBA off the bench.
Brown’s general athleticism is clearly NBA-caliber, and when paired together with his really feel for the sport, it turns into simple to see why groups have remained intrigued by him. The Celtics, who’re searching for lengthy, versatile wings that may run the ground, defend, and end on the rim, might view Brown as a developmental challenge with actual upside.
Whereas there’s work to be performed on his defensive skillset, Brown already seems able to contributing on the opposite finish of the courtroom constantly. Additional, Brown brings actual NBA expertise to the desk. He was drafted forty eighth general by the Timberwolves in 2022 earlier than being traded to the Indiana Pacers. Brown started his professional journey on a two-way contract.
Nonetheless, he suffered a tibia stress fracture that required surgical procedure in early 2023, and re-signed with the Pacers on a two-way contract in July 2023. He ultimately landed a three-year deal earlier than being waived in October, per Basketball Reference.
At simply 22 years previous, he nonetheless has room to develop bodily and might simply turn into an off-the-ball scorer with a stable defensive basis. Whether or not the Celtics resolve to supply him a two-way contract or an Exhibit-10 deal, Brown has already confirmed that he belongs within the NBA and has the preventing spirit to get well from the various setbacks his profession has already seen.
So far as the Celtics’ summer season league marketing campaign goes, Kendall Brown is well essentially the most intriguing prospect who deserves time within the NBA.