A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
Over the summer, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown maintained their connection primarily via text. They occasionally ran into each other between the playoffs and before training camp, but their relationship was more about being teammates and colleagues rather than close friends. Offseasons felt short, especially after enduring long playoff runs. Last summer, the Celtics faced a bitter defeat in Game 7 of the conference finals against the Miami Heat, a game where Tatum turned his ankle and Brown struggled to pick up the slack. It was a loss that had the potential to tear the team apart, compounded by the impending increase in team expenses with Brown's contract. Both players sensed the urgency of the situation.
The Celtics had shown patience with their young stars, a stark contrast to the impatience often displayed by fans and media. Recognizing the need for a stronger bond, Brown took the initiative and called Tatum, suggesting they work out together. Assistant coach Sam Cassell arranged the workouts, with trainer Drew Hanlen overseeing them. Celtics legend Paul Pierce even joined in, lifting weights and participating in their workouts. Through these efforts, Tatum and Brown not only pushed each other but also cemented a bond that carried the team through one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
Tatum and Brown were always recognized for their talent and potential. The game simply needed to slow down for them. Comparisons were made to dynamic duos like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Despite facing ego issues, tough opponents, injuries, and media speculation, they never lost faith. To support their development, the Celtics made significant changes. Brad Stevens transitioned from coach to president of basketball operations. After Ime Udoka was hired and then fired as coach, Joe Mazzulla was brought in as an assistant and later promoted to head coach. Additionally, three veteran stars were brought in to mentor the young duo. The team leaned heavily on Tatum and Brown as their leaders.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens played a crucial role in keeping Brown and Tatum together. He was instrumental in drafting each of them and building the team around their talents. Over the years, Stevens declined trade offers involving several big-name players, consistently reassuring Brown of the organization’s commitment to him. This culminated in Brown signing the largest contract in NBA history, a commitment he used as motivation to elevate his game. In the subsequent playoffs, Brown delivered the best performances of his career, earning MVP honors in both the conference finals and the final series.
The Journey to Championship Glory
Tatum and Brown were no strangers to media criticism, but they succeeded in blocking out the noise. Tatum’s 6-year-old son, Deuce, became a symbol of Tatum's journey with the Celtics, particularly after the painful loss in the 2022 Finals. With Deuce by his side, Tatum focused on his training and addressing weaknesses in his game. His improvement was evident in the playoffs. The dynamic duo's narrative often centered around their personal relationship, but their shared success rendered debates over their compatibility irrelevant. This season, the Celtics experienced a stunningly successful run with minimal drama. Coach Mazzulla frequently emphasized the importance of a growth mentality.
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."