A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown shared occasional texts over the summers and bumped into each other occasionally after the playoffs and before training camp. They were teammates and colleagues, but not close friends. For them, the offseasons felt especially brief when the playoff runs were long. Last summer was one of those short offseasons. The Celtics lost a Game 7 to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Tatum turned an ankle, and Brown couldn't pick up the slack. It was a loss that had the potential to tear the team apart, especially with Brown's contract about to make the team more expensive.
Both stars sensed the urgency. The Celtics had been patient with them unlike the fans and media. Recognizing the need for improvement, Brown called Tatum to suggest they work out together. Assistant coach Sam Cassell arranged these workouts, which were run by trainer Drew Hanlen. Legendary Celtic Paul Pierce even joined them to lift weights and offer guidance.
The result? They pushed each other and cemented a bond that carried them through one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
They were always good and talented, but the game needed to slow down for them. Comparisons with duos like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway were frequent. Yet, Tatum and Brown faced ego issues, tough opponents, and injuries without losing faith. The Celtics made significant changes to support their stars. Brad Stevens transitioned from head coach to president of basketball operations, Ime Udoka was hired and fired as head coach, and Joe Mazzulla was promoted from assistant to head coach. Additionally, three veteran stars were brought in to mentor Tatum and Brown, solidifying their roles as the team's leaders.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens played a crucial role in keeping Tatum and Brown together. He had signed off on drafting each of them and meticulously built the team around them. Over the years, Stevens declined trades for several big-name players and frequently reassured Brown of the organization’s commitment. This commitment was further demonstrated when Stevens signed Brown to the largest contract in NBA history. Brown used this trust as motivation to elevate his game, playing the best basketball of his career in these playoffs. It paid off — he was named MVP of both the conference finals and the NBA finals.
The Journey to Championship Glory
Tatum and Brown endured persistent media criticism but learned to block it out. Tatum's 6-year-old son, Deuce, has often been a symbol of his journey with the Celtics. The duo faced losses, lofty expectations, and endless media speculation together. Deuce's presence helped Tatum recover after losing the 2022 Finals, and Tatum dedicated himself to training and correcting his weaknesses. His improvement was evident in their playoff run, justifying his and Brown's efforts to stay focused amid doubts about their compatibility.
Tatum and Brown's story is more than just basketball; it’s about their personal relationship. Winning together has made debates about their compatibility irrelevant. The Celtics' season was highly successful, characterized by minimal drama and a growth mentality embraced by head coach Joe Mazzulla.
Quotes from the Journey
“We were always good and talented. The game needed to slow down.”
"Oh, they didn't win it. They can't play together. They should trade him."
"It's what it's all about. When we're all done with the Celtics, as coaches, as players, all that's going to matter is how we treated each other. Nothing else matters."
"I always felt for him in that regard. I think now I could have been better."
"You worry about how some people would handle that. Not Jaylen. He's a worker. He just wants to get better. He takes everything as motivation to improve."
"I don't ever win s---."
"If you had asked me that maybe a year ago, I would have probably said yeah. But now, at this point, it feels great. Any personal awards, it is what it is."
"I trusted him. He trusted me. And we did it together."
"He was born six weeks into the season and I was scared. I was like, 'I don't want to roll over on him.'"
"He was scared s----, just like I was as a father. No one's ready to have a child when they're still living out their childhood dream. But I've seen him grow so much. He's really a great dad."
"You're damn right I am."
"It took being relentless."
"It took being on the other side of this and losing in the Finals and being at literally the lowest point in a basketball career that you could be, to next year, thinking that would be the time, and coming up short again."
"Now, to elevate yourself in a space where all your favorite players are, everybody considered greats or legends who've won a championship, multiple championships, now I can walk in those rooms and be a part of that. It's a hell of a feeling. This is more — I dreamed about what it would be like, but this is 10 times better."
"The whole Jayson-Jaylen discussion in the national media is laughable to all of us."
"I don't have the time to give a f---."
"What do you remember about that series? [Michael Jordan's] pull-up clincher at the end of Game 6, right? But do you remember that they lost Game 1? Do you remember that he missed a game-winner? Do you remember he was 9-for-26 in a Game 5 loss? All you remember was the clinching pull-back game-winner."
"My big thing to him was, 'Hey, no one really cares what you did game by game. All that really matters is if you hang a banner.'
"To me, teams thrive when there's little drama and they're moving in one direction."
"You have to stay in long enough. That's how you grow."