For years, questions have been raised regarding Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s ability to play together for the Boston Celtics.
The fanbase is often split on which player is the “leader” of the team, or who is the better scorer. Yet, the truth is that Boston is fortunate to have two elite forwards on the roster, both of whom can take over a game at a moment’s notice.
During a recent conversation with Heavy on Sports via Betting Sites, former Celtics player-turned-coach Evan Turner was clear in his assessment that both Tatum and Brown can not only play together but are also close friends.
“I think it’s funny ’cause I’ve seen it up close,” Turner said. “After the first few minutes when I was around ’em, I’m like, oh, these dudes don’t hate on it. Like, they like each other. They have ultimate respect for each other.”
Turner continued.
“ There was no negative, no side eye, no anything. They know who they are, they know where they’re going… Those dudes are elite and I think as young individuals, young men, you just gotta let ’em sit back and cook and let them rock this generation.”
Tatum And Brown Can Co-Exist On The Celtics
During the same conversation with Turner, he stressed that any concerns regarding Tatum and Brown’s ability to co-exist on the Celtics roster are misplaced.
“They were supposed to suck, and they don’t suck now,” Turner said. “So we’re gonna go right back to being like, you know what, JB and JT can co-exist. They just won a championship together. They’ve been to eight Eastern Conference finals together. They both average 26 27.”
Since Tatum’s return to the Celtics rotation, both he and Brown have found ways to impact the game without limiting each other’s production. The two All-Star forwards have been part of the Celtics roster for so long that playing together is second nature to both of them.
The Celtics Are Legitimate Contenders
Coming into the regular season, some sections of the fanbase were expecting this season to be a forgettable one. Tanking was a key topic of discussion, especially due to the strength and depth of the 2026 draft class.
However, Joe Mazzulla’s team has proven all of its doubters wrong. Boston is currently second in the Eastern Conference, and look good value to make a deep postseason run. In fact, if Tatum can remain healthy, and Mazzulla’s primary rotation remains intact, there’s a good chance the squad could make a push for the NBA Finals.
Of course, both the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks will also believe they’re capable of making a deep run. However, the Celtics have championship experience and roster continuity. Those are two things that are hard to come by in the modern NBA.
Tatum is still working his way back to full fitness, and is still finding his rhythm after missing most of the season. Nevertheless, the Celtics already look better with him on the court. So, perhaps Turner is right. Perhaps the Celtics do need both Tatum and Brown in order to compete. Fortunately, both forwards appear to understand that, even if the media doesn’t.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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