Jaylen Brown’s description of his dynamic with Tatum is fascinating

Jaylen Brown’s description of his dynamic with Tatum is fascinating originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

Since 2018, no two players have won more playoff games than Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Still, fans and media continue to wonder 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 narrative (which Tatum and Brown have closed repeatedly) has persisted in part because Tatum and Brown are simply different people with different personalities. But during a recent appearance on All the smoke podcast with former NBA players Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, Brown explained how those differences actually work to his and Tatum’s benefit.

“I think when Tatum and I came in, we had similar situations, but we’re kind of opposites in sense,” Brown explained.

“Even in our game — I’m more aggressive, Tatum is more laid back, you know what I mean? And that’s how our personalities (are). He’ll probably say I’m more out-of-the-box, and he’s probably a little simpler and simpler – just keep it simple.

“So, in a weird way, it works, because we lack what each other has. In a strange way, we have an understanding of each other, a respect for each other.

“Our families (are) close, like, my brother takes care of his son and stuff like that. We’re different, we have different mindsets, but at the same time, like, I think we respect each other.”

This is a great look from Brown on what makes him and Tatum work so well together. When the Celtics need an aggressor to set the tone and increase their intensity on the court, they can turn to Brown, who Ranked among the NBA leaders in first-quarter scoring this season. When they need to calm the game down and protect themselves from losing their cool, they can turn to Tatum, who can score at all three levels and has just had his best season as a facilitator (4.9 assists to just 2.0 turnovers per game).

Most importantly, Brown and Tatum are aware of each other’s strengths and weaknesses and realize how the other can help them become the best versions of themselves. That selflessness especially shined this season, where they were genuinely invested in helping each other succeed.

During the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in February, for example, Tatum reportedly asked coach Doc Rivers to give Brown his minutes then Brown could get a shot at the game’s MVP award. Brown finished with 36 points and narrowly missed out on the honor, but won a more significant award on Monday by winning the Larry Bird Trophy as Eastern Conference Finals MVP – with Tatum among those happily congratulating their All-Star teammate.

Brown and Tatum are the two most important players in the Celtics’ quest for the Banner 18, which will enter the final stage when the 2024 NBA Finals begin next Thursday. And if Boston wins the title, its two stars’ relationship will be a big reason why.