A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown maintained contact over the summers primarily via text. Occasionally, they would run into each other after the playoffs and before training camp. Though they were teammates and colleagues, their relationship did not extend to close friendship. The offseasons often felt brief, particularly when the playoff runs were lengthy.
Last summer, the Celtics suffered a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Tatum turned an ankle, and Brown could not compensate for the loss. It was the kind of defeat that could easily tear a team apart. With Brown's contract set to make the team more expensive, both stars sensed an urgency to step up. While the Celtics organization exhibited patience, fans and media were not as forgiving.
Recognizing the need for improvement, Brown called Tatum and suggested they work out together. Assistant coach Sam Cassell arranged the sessions and trainer Drew Hanlen oversaw them. Even Celtics legend Paul Pierce joined in, lifting weights and participating in their workouts. This effort solidified a strong bond between Tatum and Brown, resulting in one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
Tatum and Brown were always recognized for their talent, but the game needed to slow down for them. They faced comparisons to great duos like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway and dealt with ego issues, tough opponents, and injuries. Despite these challenges, they never lost faith. The Celtics made significant changes to support Tatum and Brown’s development. Brad Stevens transitioned from head coach to president of basketball operations. Ime Udoka was hired as head coach but was later replaced by Joe Mazzulla, who was initially an assistant.
To better support Tatum and Brown, three veteran stars were brought in to mentor them. The organization leaned into Tatum and Brown's capacities to lead the team.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens played a crucial role in keeping Brown and Tatum together. He approved the drafting of both players and systematically built the team around them. Over the years, Stevens declined potential trades for high-profile players to maintain this core.
Stevens often reassured Brown of the organization’s commitment to him, culminating in signing Brown to the most substantial contract in NBA history. Motivated by this commitment, Brown 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
Throughout their journey, Tatum and Brown encountered media criticisms but chose to block out the noise. Tatum's 6-year-old son, Deuce, symbolizes his journey with the Celtics. Both players endured losses, faced expectations, and dealt with media speculation, but Deuce helped Tatum cope following their loss in the 2022 Finals.
Determined to improve, Tatum focused on training and addressing his weaknesses, showing significant improvements in the playoffs. The personal relationship between Tatum and Brown, often a topic of debate, proved crucial as they won together, rendering discussions about their compatibility irrelevant. The Celtics achieved a highly successful season with minimal drama. Coach Mazzulla emphasized the importance of a growth mentality.
Quotes
Tatum and Brown expressed their sentiments effectively:
"We were always good and talented. The game needed to slow down," reflected Tatum. The media often questioned their compatibility, saying, "Oh, they didn't win it. They can't play together. They should trade him." However, the players' focus remained on their mutual trust and collective effort.
Stevens shared his philosophy, stating, "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."
Brown’s relentless attitude was evident: "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."
Tatum reflected on the importance of their journey: "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."
Regarding their legacy, Tatum added, “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. 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."
Concluding on a note about media speculation, Tatum remarked, "The whole Jayson-Jaylen discussion in the national media is laughable to all of us."
Their journey epitomizes the belief that persistence and strong camaraderie can overcome any challenge.