Over the course of nine seasons together, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown became the faces of the Boston Celtics organization.
But after the C’s traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers over the summer, Tatum will be without his long-time co-pilot on the same team for the first time in his NBA career. And speaking at the team’s media day Monday, Tatum sounded ready to take on the burden that will bring.
“This is year 10, so obviously, just kind of been through it all,” Tatum said.
That experience will be crucial as the Celtics navigate the upcoming season. They’ll have some old faces (Tatum, Derrick White), some new faces (Mitchell Robinson) and some older new faces (veterans Paul George and Mike Conley Jr.) on this roster.
But the biggest storyline, at least early on, will be how the team adjusts to playing without Jaylen Brown.
Head coach Joe Mazzulla made sure to address that absence first thing when he stepped up to the podium for his remarks.
“You know, obviously, what he’s been able to accomplish has been great,” Mazzulla said. “And it’s not a one-time thing to where you let go of that. You know, there’s obviously a short-term perspective and then a long-term perspective about what he did over the course of his time here, both on and off the floor. And that should not be forgotten.
“At the same time, today’s the first day of our ’26-’27 season, and shifting our focus towards the players and that team and the season that we have,” Mazzulla added.
Tatum acknowledged that the Brown trade was tough. But losing a Finals MVP and long-time compatriot to a rival is sometimes just part of the NBA.
“I always say, this business of the NBA always comes and plays a part at some point. And I’ve seen it through my almost 10 years of being in this league,” Tatum said. “You know for me, moreso just being grateful for what we accomplished. And what he means to this city and to this organization. You know just the ups and downs in our career, that we were able to grow and learn from that made us the players that we are today. So really just being thankful for those nine years.”
Now, Tatum will be running with a player he grew up watching in Paul George.
“He was definitely somebody when I was high school, college, even early in my career that I would always try to steal things from and watch what he was doing,” Tatum said.
George is coming onto this team as the sage veteran. But coming up in California as an acolyte of Kobe Bryant, he could never have imagined himself playing for the Celtics.
“I think as a kid you kind of despise green,” George said. “But in terms of you think of what is one of the most historic organizations not only in basketball, but just sports in general, Boston Celtics is cream of the crop. So to have this opportunity is amazing. You know, obviously, since I’ve been here, it’s one of those things where, man, I wish I was here a lot sooner.”
Times change. The kid who grew up watching Kobe now plays for Boston. Jaylen Brown is now a Sixer. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the Celtics unyielding thirst for another title.
If they can get there is another matter entirely.
