The Boston Celtics’ 2025-26 regular season has come to an end. But before we turn our attention to the team’s quest for Banner 19, it’s time to recognize the C’s who played key roles en route to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
From MVP (an obvious choice) to the biggest surprise (a toss-up), we handed out superlatives and awards for a team that smashed preseason expectations. Here’s who’s taking home the fake hardware:
Most Valuable Player: Jaylen Brown
No need to spend much time on this no-brainer. Jaylen Brown was counted on to step up as the Celtics’ No. 1 option with Jayson Tatum out, and he exceeded even the loftiest expectations.
In what many believed would be a “gap year” for the C’s, Brown averaged career highs in points (28.7), rebounds (6.9), and assists (5.1) per game while leading Boston to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Brown notched three triple-doubles and 14 double-doubles during the 2025-26 campaign. He tied his career high with 50 points in a January win over the Los Angeles Clippers and had six other games with at least 40 points.
Not only was Brown the Celtics’ MVP, but he also earned some NBA MVP consideration for his spectacular season as Boston’s go-to option.
Most Improved Player: Neemias Queta
Queta took his game to another level as the Celtics’ starting center. The 26-year-old averaged 10.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game — all career highs and double his 2024-25 numbers — as Boston’s top big man without Kristaps Porzingis, Al Horford and Luke Kornet. He recorded 17 double-doubles.
“He’s probably one of the most improved players this year,” Brown said after Queta’s big game against Toronto last week. “I don’t know if he’s up for the award, but he should be.”
Queta is a long shot to win the award, but that doesn’t take anything away from his breakout season. He added a new dimension to a C’s offense that has been largely dependent on the 3-ball, all while being exceptional on the defensive end.
Defensive Player of the Year: Derrick White
D-White went through his fair share of offensive slumps, yet he still averaged a career-high 16.5 points per game. On the defensive end, he was even better than usual.
White came two blocks shy of becoming the first player in NBA history to make 200 3-pointers and record 100 blocks in a season. The best shot-blocking guard in the league averaged 1.3 per game, and on Dec. 30 vs. the Utah Jazz, he tied C’s great Dennis Johnson for the most blocks by a guard in a single game with seven swats.
White also averaged a career-high 1.1 steals per game. He should be a lock for his first career First-Team All-Defense nod.
Biggest surprise: Luka Garza
The Celtics’ depth at center became a concern after they traded Kristaps Porzingis and lost Al Horford and Luke Kornet in free agency. Luka Garza was the only big man they added to the roster, and entering the season with him as the top center off the bench was a head-scratcher.
Garza was a two-way player for the Minnesota Timberwolves until he signed a standard deal at the end of the 2023-24 season. The former Iowa standout was never anything more than a depth piece for Minnesota, but he carved out a critical role in Boston.
In 69 games, Garza averaged 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in 16.1 minutes per game while shooting 43.3 percent from 3-point range. He delivered several memorable performances, including a 22-point, seven-rebound game in Memphis and a 27-point, 12-rebound outburst in the season finale vs. Orlando.
Garza has made the case to be the Celtics’ go-to big man off the bench in the playoffs over trade deadline acquisition Nikola Vucevic. That probably won’t be the case to start the postseason, but Garza has earned Joe Mazzulla’s trust if Vucevic struggles.
Baylor Scheierman gets an honorable mention as a surprising force off the Celtics’ bench.
Rookie of the Year: Hugo Gonzalez
Gonzalez didn’t have much competition for this one. Amari Williams was the only other rookie on the roster, and he appeared in only 22 games with Boston.
Still, Gonzalez’s rookie season should be celebrated. The 20-year-old was a spark plug off the Celtics’ bench, showing tremendous hustle each time he stepped onto the court.
Gonzalez’s biggest game of his rookie season came on March 2, when he logged 18 points and 16 rebounds in a win over the Milwaukee Bucks. He also had several noteworthy performances on the defensive end and was often tasked with guarding the opponent’s top option.
It’s scary to think about how good Gonzalez could become on both ends of the floor if his development continues on its current trajectory.
Sixth Man of the Year: Baylor Scheierman
Payton Pritchard doesn’t qualify for this honor as he started in 50 of his 79 games played. Therefore, second-year sharpshooter Baylor Scheierman is the clear choice.
Scheierman delivered a jolt off the C’s bench with impressive 3-point shooting and outstanding hustle on both ends. He finished the season with four double-doubles despite his limited minutes.
In Thursday’s win over the New York Knicks, Scheierman tallied a career-high 20 points with six 3-pointers. He followed that up in the regular-season finale vs. the Magic with a career-high 30 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and six 3s.
These performances show what Scheierman is capable of with more playing time in the coming years.
Best moment: Jayson Tatum returns from injury
Given how the Celtics smashed their preseason expectations, there’s no shortage of on-court moments, highlights, milestones, or wins to choose from. That said, it’s difficult to go with anything other than superstar Jayson Tatum’s miraculous return from his devastating Achilles injury.
Tatum’s 10-month absence ended on March 6 against the Dallas Mavericks. He made his long-awaited return to the parquet to loud cheers from the TD Garden crowd.
It took a while for Tatum to find his shot, but he finished his season debut just three assists shy of a triple-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. He has since looked more like his superstar self, just in time for another run at Banner 19.
