Jaylen Brown's description of the dynamic with Tatum is an interesting one, originally published on NBC Sports Boston.
No player has had more playoff wins since 2018 than Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but fans and media continue to have questions about their relationship, from whether the Boston Celtics All-Stars get along off the court to whether they have each other's best interests in mind.
This story (which Tatum and Brown have repeatedly denied) persists because Tatum and Brown are simply different people with different personalities. All About Smoke During a podcast with former NBA players Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, Brown explained how those differences actually work to his and Tatum's advantage.
Tatum and Brown have been a solid duo from the start, but they're the ones hated by many.
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Editor's note: Brown's interview with Jackson and Barnes first aired in 2019.
“I think me and Tatum were in similar situations when we came in, but it feels like the polar opposite,” Brown explained.
“Even in our game, I'm more aggressive and Tatum's more laid back. You know? That's our personalities. He'd probably say I'm more unconventional and he's more calm and simple. Just keep it simple.”
“So, in a weird way, it works because there's something we each lack. We understand each other and respect each other, weirdly enough.”
“Our families are close and my brother babysits my son. We are all different and have different ways of thinking, but at the same time, I think we respect each other.”
Here's some great insight from Brown on how well he and Tatum work together: When the Celtics need an aggressive player to set the tone and bring intensity on the court, they can turn to Brown, who ranks among the leaders in the NBA in first quarter scoring this season. When they need someone to calm things down and keep their cool, they can turn to Tatum, who can score at all three levels and is coming off his best season as a facilitator (4.9 assists per game with just 2.0 turnovers).
Most importantly, Brown and Tatum recognize each other's strengths and weaknesses and understand how they can help each other be their best selves. That selflessness has been especially evident this season as they have genuinely helped each other succeed.
For example, at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in February, Tatum reportedly asked head coach Doc Rivers to cede playing time to Brown so Brown could have a shot at the game's MVP award. Brown finished with 36 points and narrowly missed out on the MVP award, but on Monday he earned a more meaningful award when he received the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference Finals MVP. Tatum was among those who joyfully congratulated his All-Star teammate.
Brown and Tatum are the two most important players in the Celtics' fight for Banner 18, which will enter its final stages when the 2024 NBA Finals begin next Thursday. And if Boston wins the title, the relationship between the two superstars will be a big reason why.
