A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown kept in touch over the summers primarily via text messages. Occasionally, they would run into each other in the off-period between the playoffs and the start of training camp. They were teammates and colleagues, but not necessarily close friends. Offseasons always felt short, especially after prolonged playoff runs.
Last summer, the Boston Celtics experienced a heartbreaking loss in Game 7 of the conference finals against the Miami Heat. Tatum turned his ankle during the game, and Brown couldn't shoulder the increased responsibility. It was a defeat so devastating it could have potentially torn the team apart.
The looming prospect of Brown's new contract was set to make the team more expensive. Both stars felt a growing sense of urgency. Despite patience from the Celtics organization, fans and the media were far from forgiving. It was amid this heightened pressure that Brown reached out to Tatum, suggesting they work out together during the offseason. Assistant Coach Sam Cassell took the initiative to arrange these workouts, which were overseen by trainer Drew Hanlen. Joining them was Celtics legend Paul Pierce, who not only participated in weightlifting sessions but also watched over their practice routines. These shared experiences served to strengthen their bond, a bond that would carry them through one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
Tatum and Brown were always talented, but the game needed to slow down for them. They faced endless comparisons to other dynamic duos, like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. Tatum and Brown confronted ego issues, tough opponents, and injuries, yet never lost faith in their abilities.
The Celtics made substantial changes to support their young stars. Brad Stevens transitioned from head coach to President of Basketball Operations, Ime Udoka was brought in as head coach only to be replaced by Joe Mazzulla, initially hired as an assistant and later promoted to the head coaching role. Additionally, three veteran stars were enlisted to mentor Tatum and Brown, a clear indication that the team was leaning into their leadership.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens deserves tremendous credit for keeping the Tatum-Brown duo intact. He approved drafting both players and constructed the team around their talents. Over the years, Stevens declined trades involving several big-name players, often reassuring Brown of the organization's commitment to him. This faith culminated in Stevens signing Brown to the largest contract in NBA history.
Brown took this organizational commitment as motivation to elevate his game. His efforts paid off spectacularly, as he played the best basketball of his career during the playoffs, earning MVP honors in both the conference finals and the NBA Finals.
The Journey to Championship Glory
Despite the constant media scrutiny, Tatum and Brown managed to block out the noise. Tatum's 6-year-old son, Deuce, became a symbol of his journey with the Celtics. Both players had been through losses, high expectations, and intense media speculation. After losing the 2022 Finals, it was Deuce who helped Tatum cope with the defeat. Tatum then focused on training and addressing weaknesses in his game, leading to significant improvement in the playoffs.
The personal relationship between Tatum and Brown has often been a focal point in their story. Winning the championship together has rendered debates about their relationship irrelevant. The Celtics enjoyed a highly successful season with minimal drama, striving for what Coach Joe Mazzulla calls a "growth mentality."
Quotes
“We were always good and talented. The game needed to slow down,” reflected Tatum. The persistent media narrative that they couldn't succeed together had been a source of frustration, with frequent calls to trade one of them. “Oh, they didn't win it. They can't play together. They should trade him,” they would hear. But in the end, they prevailed together. "I trusted him. He trusted me. And we did it together," Tatum remarked, summing up their journey to championship glory.
Brown often noted the immense motivation he drew from the organization's faith in him. “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,” said Stevens.
Tatum compared their journey to climbing a mountain. “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 was going to be the time, and coming up short again,” he said. The long-term vision, the enduring faith in each other, and the refusal to succumb to external pressures finally paid off. “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... 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.”
With minimal drama and a unified direction, the Celtics achieved what once seemed impossible. They proved that staying together long enough allows for growth, resilience, and ultimately, success.