A Summer of Change for Tatum and Brown
During the summers, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would keep in touch via text. Occasionally, they would run into each other between playoff runs and training camps. While they were teammates and colleagues, they were not close friends. Offseasons feel particularly short when playoff journeys extend deep into the postseason.
Last summer, the Boston Celtics experienced a heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Miami Heat in the conference finals. Tatum turned an ankle, and Brown couldn't carry the team on his own. It was the type of loss that could dismantle a team. With Brown's contract about to make the team more expensive, both stars sensed a pressing urgency.
The Celtics, known for their patience, had stuck with Tatum and Brown, unlike the impatient fans and media. Recognizing the moment, Brown reached out to Tatum, suggesting that they work out together over the summer. Assistant coach Sam Cassell arranged the workouts, and trainer Drew Hanlen ran them. Paul Pierce even joined, lifting weights with them and sitting in on their sessions. These off-season workouts proved to be the foundation of a stronger bond between Tatum and Brown, a bond that carried over into one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.
Overcoming Adversity
From the onset, Tatum and Brown were always talented. But they needed the game to slow down for them. They faced inevitable comparisons to iconic duos like Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway. They experienced ego issues, tough opponents, and injuries, but never lost their faith.
The Celtics organization made several wholesale changes to support their stars. Brad Stevens transitioned from head coach to president of basketball operations, Ime Udoka was hired and then dismissed 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, emphasizing their roles as team leaders.
The Decision to Keep Them Together
Brad Stevens played a pivotal role in keeping Tatum and Brown together. He had signed off on drafting each of them and built the team around their talents. Over the years, Stevens declined numerous trade opportunities involving big-name players, continually reassuring Brown of the organization’s commitment. His faith in them culminated in offering Brown the largest contract in NBA history, a commitment that Brown used as motivation to elevate his game.
During the playoffs, Brown showcased the best basketball of his career, earning MVP honors of both the conference finals and the NBA finals. His performance validated the Celtics’ decision to invest heavily in their star duo.
The Journey to Championship Glory
Throughout their careers, Tatum and Brown heard media criticisms but managed to block them out. Symbolically, Tatum's 6-year-old son, Deuce, represents his journey with the Celtics. The duo faced losses, high expectations, and endless media speculation. After the disappointment of losing the 2022 Finals, Deuce played a crucial role in helping Tatum refocus. Tatum dedicated himself to addressing weaknesses in his game and significantly improved, especially during the playoffs.
The relationship between Tatum and Brown often steals the narrative, but their combined efforts led to success, rendering debates about their relationship irrelevant. This season, the Celtics enjoyed a highly successful run with minimal drama. Head coach Joe Mazzulla attributed this to the team’s "growth mentality."
Quotes that Define 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 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."
The journey of Tatum and Brown, marked by relentless hard work and a commitment to improvement, epitomizes the ups and downs of professional sports. As Brown once said, “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 come up short again."
Now, both players can reflect on their hard-earned championship glory and see themselves among the greats. As Tatum noted, "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."
Indeed, the Celtics' strategy of nurturing young talent and investing in patience and growth, championed by Stevens and embraced by the team, has led to the ultimate success. As Mazzulla succinctly put it, "To me, teams thrive when there's little drama, and they're moving in one direction."