A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown maintained contact over the summers, mostly through text. Occasionally, they would run into each other after the grueling playoff runs and before training camp kicked off. They were teammates and colleagues but hadn't developed a deep personal bond. The offseasons often felt fleeting, especially when playoff runs extended deep into June.
Last summer, the Boston Celtics fell short in a heart-wrenching Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Tatum turned his ankle, leaving Brown to shoulder the burden—an effort that ultimately fell short. It was a loss that could have torn the team apart, especially with Brown's contract set to make the team's payroll significantly higher. Both stars sensed the urgency.
While fans and media grew impatient, the Celtics' organization remained steadfast. Brown reached out to Tatum with a proposition: they should work out together. Assistant coach Sam Cassell organized these sessions, while trainer Drew Hanlen supervised the drills. Celtics legend Paul Pierce joined them, lifting weights and participating in workouts. Through these shared summer efforts, their bond strengthened. This newfound camaraderie translated into one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
Tatum and Brown were always good and talented, but the game needed to slow down for them. Comparisons emerged to legendary duos like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. The journey wasn't without challenges—ego issues, formidable opponents, and injuries tested them. Yet, they never lost faith.
The Celtics made significant organizational changes to support their two budding stars. Brad Stevens transitioned from head coach to president of basketball operations. Ime Udoka was hired as head coach but was later dismissed. Joe Mazzulla, initially an assistant, was promoted to head coach. Additionally, the team brought in three veteran stars to mentor Tatum and Brown. The Celtics leaned into both players as their on-court leaders.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens played a pivotal role in keeping Brown and Tatum together. He endorsed drafting both players and consistently built the team around their talents. Stevens turned down several trade opportunities involving big-name players over the years, often reassuring Brown of the organization’s long-term commitment. This culminated in Brown signing the largest contract in NBA history, using it as motivation to elevate his game. Brown's hard work paid off, as he delivered the best basketball of his career during these playoffs, earning MVP honors in both the conference finals and the NBA Finals.
The Journey to Championship Glory
Tatum and Brown faced media criticism but managed to block out the noise. Tatum's 6-year-old son Deuce became a symbol of Tatum's journey with the Celtics. Through losses, high expectations, and relentless media speculation, the duo emerged stronger. After the heartbreak of losing the 2022 Finals, Tatum focused on addressing weaknesses in his game, leading to significant improvements in the following postseason.
Their story frequently revolves around their evolving personal relationship. The narrative shifted as they won together, making debates about their compatibility irrelevant. The Celtics enjoyed a highly successful season with minimal drama, underlining the benefits of a cohesive, growth-oriented team culture.
Quotes:
“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 in our time with the Celtics, as coaches, as players, all that's going to really matter is how we treated each other. Nothing else matters."
"I always felt for him in that regard. I think now that maybe 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 would have asked me that maybe a year ago, I would probably say yeah. But just at the point I got to right now, it feels great. Any of the 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, to the following year, thinking that was going to be the time, and come up short again.
"Now, to elevate yourself in a space that, you know, all your favorite players are in, everybody that they consider greats or legends have won a championship, and all of the guys I looked up to won a championship, multiple championships. Now I can, like, 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 and a Game 5 loss.' All you remember was the game, 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."