The Boston Celtics entered the 2025‑26 season with a clear scoring gap after Jaylen Brown’s breakout year. Brown finished fourth in the league in points per game, ranked third in total points and led the team in field goals made. While no single player can replace every ounce of Brown’s offensive firepower, the franchise must find new ways to keep the scoreboard ticking.
Who could fill the void?
For the fifth installment of our “Ramp to Camp” series, a panel of Celtics‑focused writers weighed in on which Boston player is most likely to post a noticeable scoring jump in the 2026‑27 campaign. The discussion centered on three main candidates: Jayson Tatum, Payton Pritchard and forward Baylor Scheierman.
Jayson Tatum – the safe bet
Tatum’s 2025‑26 average was artificially low after he appeared in only 16 games while recovering from an Achilles injury. In the three seasons before that setback, he averaged 27.9 points per game, roughly six points higher than his abbreviated 2025‑26 numbers. If he returns to full health, it would not be surprising to see him replicate his 2022‑23 output of 30.1 points per game. The panel agreed that a healthy Tatum remains the most reliable source of scoring for Boston.
Payton Pritchard – a rising workhorse
Several contributors highlighted Pritchard’s growing role. One analyst noted that Pritchard has consistently improved each season, moving from 14.3 points per game two years ago to 17.0 last season. With Brown’s minutes likely to be redistributed, Pritchard could see enough volume to push his average past the 20‑point mark for the first time in his career.
Baylor Scheierman – the dark horse
Others pointed to Scheierman, who posted 8.6 points per game on 40.3% three‑point shooting in 28 post‑All‑Star appearances last season, up from 5.5 points per game overall. Coach Joe Mazzulla’s trust in Scheierman suggests he will receive more opportunities, especially if the Celtics continue to rotate their wing players. Projections from Basketball Reference estimate he could reach 11.5 points per game, roughly double his output a year ago.
Other wing prospects
While Hugo Gonzalez and Jordan Walsh have shown defensive promise, their offensive consistency remains in question. The panel agreed that both still need to prove they can be reliable scoring threats before they are counted among the top candidates for a major leap.
What the numbers say
Looking back at the 2024‑25 to 2025‑26 transition, Brown’s scoring jump of 6.5 points per game was the most dramatic among Boston’s core. Derrick White’s increase was modest (+0.1), and Pritchard’s rise was 2.7 points per game. Those trends suggest that when a player receives a larger offensive load, the Celtics can expect a measurable boost.
Bottom line
Boston’s front office will likely lean on Tatum’s proven scoring ability while giving Pritchard and Scheierman the chance to expand their roles. If the team can balance the workload across its wings, the Celtics should remain competitive even as they adjust to Brown’s reduced minutes.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
