There has been a lot of talk about the Boston Celtics now that Jayson Tatum has returned to the fold. While most saw the 2025-26 season as a soft rebuild for them, the excellence from Jaylen Brown has allowed them to remain in the thick of things in the East.
However, with the five-time All-Star returning to the mix, there are genuine concerns about how the two will operate in a new setting. Now, Brown has come out and cleared the air on where the two stand with less than 20 games remaining in the season.
Jaylen Brown Explains His Equation With Jayson Tatum
Even before Tatum’s return, the Celtics were cruising along to a top-three seed in the Eastern Conference. Top-10 in defensive rating and one of the three best teams on offense, they had done a miraculous job with the roster.
After Tatum was ruled out for the season, the organization did not make a ton of upgrades to the roster, as they lost Al Horford and Kristaps Porziņģis as well. However, a brilliant head coaching job from Joe Mazulla allowed them to remain a force to be reckoned with.
Moreover, Brown took an almighty leap, exploding for career highs in points (28.3), rebounds (7.1), and assists (5.1). As a result, he’s earned some legitimate MVP buzz as well, something that was usually reserved for Tatum in previous years.
That uptick led many to believe that his return could lead to some friction between the two best players on the roster. However, just three games after Tatum’s return, Brown has cleared the air on the relationship between the two.
Appearing on “Cousins with Vince Carter & Tracy McGrady,” he broke down how the two were navigating the final few games of the year. “We had a great talk today, and I think that’s the most important thing.”
Claiming that the outside noise was undeniable, he added, “We’ve accomplished a lot. We’ve won a lot, and we’re one of the bigger profiles in the game, and it’s the Boston Celtics. So, anytime if one of us scratch our a** like it’s going to be on the news, right?”
But beyond his complaints about the limelight, he had one statement that is going to alleviate a lot of the fears that any fans, particularly in Boston, might have about the duo.
“We are aware, and we’re both on the same page. We had a good talk today about what we want the most. We both, you know, talk to the team as well, which is important. So, because I feel like the team kind goes off, we’ll go off what our energy is.”
Reiterating the different lineups that have been a part and parcel of their run over the last half-decade, Brown subtly reminded folks about the adversity he and Tatum have dealt with.
While everyone’s worst fears and doubts will only evaporate by the results on the court, it looks like the two are on the same page and ready to make a potentially deep run during the postseason.
