Jays (Boston Celtics)

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum both played one year in college. They were briefly together during Team USA camps, before joining the NBA.{{Cite web |last=Postrado |first=Jay |date=2024-06-18 |title=Celtics' Jayson Tatum gets painfully honest on past Jaylen Brown trade rumors |url=https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-jayson-tatum-gets-painfully-honest-past-jaylen-brown-trade-rumors |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ClutchPoints |language=en}}

Meanwhile, by 2016, the Boston Celtics had been rebuilding for years, since the collapse of their "Big Three" in 2012–13. Upon Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum being drafted third overall in back-to-back years, the Celtics were "almost instantly branded with the hopes of a franchise that was desperately chasing its elusive 18th championship".{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title='I trusted him. He trusted me.' Brown and Tatum answered critics while leading Celtics to 18th title |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/trusted-him-trusted-brown-tatum-054434649.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}

The duo made their debut on October 17, 2017, in the season opener for the 2017–18 season. The Celtics lost on the road against their rival Cleveland Cavaliers, 99–102. Brown scored 25 points, while Tatum had 14 points and 10 rebounds.{{Cite web |title=Cavaliers 102-99 Celtics (Oct 17, 2017) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=400974437 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Through the 2017–18 regular season, Brown averaged 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, while Tatum averaged 13.9 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Boston finished the regular season with a record of 55–27, securing the #2-seed in the Eastern Conference.

During the 2018 playoffs, the duo began to truly show their potential. Through the postseason, Brown averaged 18 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, while Tatum averaged 18.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On April 22, 2018, in Game 4 of the first round against Milwaukee Bucks, the Celtics lost on the road, 102–104. However, Brown and Tatum combined to score 55 points, making them the first duo under 22 years old to do so since Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. This performance was seen as a key moment in the duo's rise.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Tony |title=Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's twisting march to glory: A timeline |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5571116/2024/06/18/jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-championship-timeline/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} The Celtics would make it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Cavaliers in seven games. After the end of the Celtics' season, a writer for the Associated Press wrote: "With the rookie Tatum and second-year Jaylen Brown, Boston established itself as the team of the future in the East."{{Cite web |title=Cavaliers 87-79 Celtics (May 27, 2018) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/recap?gameId=401032846 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

In the 2018–19 regular season, statistically, Brown took a slight step back, while Tatum improved, compared to the previous season. Brown averaged 13 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists, while Tatum averaged 15.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics finished the regular season with a record of 49–33, securing the #4-seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the 2019 playoffs, Brown averaged 13.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.1 assists, while Tatum averaged 15.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

During the 2019–20 regular season, Brown averaged 20.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, while Tatum averaged 23.4 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

Despite the pandemic, Boston was invited to the NBA Bubble for the 2020 playoffs as the #3-seed in the Eastern Conference. In Orlando, Brown averaged 21.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists, while Tatum averaged a double-double with 25.7 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics returned to the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost to the Miami Heat in six games.

During the 2020–21 regular season, Brown averaged 24.7 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while Tatum averaged 26.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On February 23, 2021, Brown and Tatum were selected for an All-Star Game together for the first time, later considered an important milestone in their partnership.{{Cite news |last=Jones |first=Tony |title=Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown's twisting march to glory: A timeline |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5571116/2024/06/18/jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-championship-timeline/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} On May 10, it was announced that Brown would miss the rest of the season due to injury.{{Cite magazine |last=Shapiro |first=Michael |date=2021-05-10 |title=Jaylen Brown Tears Ligament in Wrist, Out Rest of Season |url=https://www.si.com/nba/2021/05/10/jaylen-brown-wrist-injury-celtics-out-2021-season |access-date=2024-06-20 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}} The Celtics finished the regular season with a 36–36 record, and defeated the Washington Wizards in the Play-In Tournament to secure the #7-seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the 2021 playoffs, without Brown, Tatum averaged 30.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics were eliminated in the first round for the first time in either of the duo's career.

During the 2021–22 regular season, Brown averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Although the Celtics began the season with an 18–21 record, they began a turnaround in January and ended up finishing the regular season as the #2-seed in the Eastern Conference with a 51–31 record.{{Cite web |last=Hartwell |first=Darren |date=March 24, 2022 |title=This stat puts Celtics' insane second-half turnaround in perspective |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/celtics-crazy-second-half-turnaround-summed-great-stat |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=NBC Sports Boston}}{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2022 |title=An Appreciation For Celtics' Incredible Second-Half Turnaround |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/celtics-second-half-turnaround-appreciation-udoka-tatum-brown-smart-horford-stevens-nba/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=CBS Boston}}{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Justin |date=2022-04-11 |title=Reacting to Celtics' remarkable turnaround since January: From 11-seed to 'best team in basketball' |url=https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2022/04/11/nba-boston-celtics-second-half-turnaround-reflection/ |access-date=2022-05-26 |website=Celtics Wire}}{{Cite web |last=Simone |first=Jack |date=2022-05-10 |title=Ime Udoka finished 4th in Coach of the Year voting |url=https://www.celticsblog.com/2022/5/10/23066178/ime-udoka-coach-of-the-year-voting-boston-celtics-monty-williams-taylor-jenkins-erik-spoelstra |access-date=May 13, 2022 |website=CelticsBlog |language=en}}

In the 2022 playoffs, Brown averaged 23.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while Tatum averaged 25.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.2 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics advanced to their third Eastern Conference Finals together in five years, defeating the Miami Heat in seven games to advance to the duo's first ever NBA Finals, where the Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in six games despite a 2–1 lead.{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown eager for 2nd chance in NBA Finals |url=https://www.nba.com/news/jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-2nd-shot-nba-finals |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=NBA.com |language=en}} During the Finals, Brown and Tatum were the highest-scoring players on their team, averaging 23.5 points and 21.5 points, respectively.{{Cite web |title=2022 NBA Finals - Celtics vs. Warriors |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2022-nba-finals-celtics-vs-warriors.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Basketball-Reference.com |language=en}}

During the 2022–23 regular season, Brown averaged 26.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists, while Tatum averaged 30.1 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics finished the regular season with a 57–25 record, securing the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference.

In the 2023 playoffs, Brown averaged 22.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists, while Tatum averaged a double-double with 27.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 5.3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} Brown and Tatum advanced to their fourth Eastern Conference Finals together in six years, once again facing the Miami Heat. The Celtics faced a 3–0 deficit before coming back to tie the series at 3–3, but lost the series in seven games.

Following the Game 7 loss to Miami, Brown and Tatum worked out together during the summer, which they had not done before. The summer workouts reportedly pushed each other and cemented their bond, which carried through the 2023–24 season, where the Jays would lead one of the most dominant seasons in NBA history.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Long-awaited confetti and champagne from inside the Celtics' locker room: 'Nobody wanted to give us no time' |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40377901/long-awaited-confetti-champagne-boston-celtics-championship-locker-room-wanted-give-us-no |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Through the 2023–24 regular season, Brown averaged 23 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists, while Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Regular Season |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} On January 10, 2024, Brown and Tatum combined for 80 points, their highest combined scoring total ever, in a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the top defense in the NBA. It was the fourth time the pair had both scored 35+ points in the same game, a feat which no other Celtics duo has ever done more than once. The Celtics won 127–120 in overtime, starting 18–0 at home for the first time in franchise history.{{Cite web |title=Jays Combine for 80 in Win Over T-Wolves' Top-Ranked Defense |url=https://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar-post-20240110-jays-combine-for-80-in-win-over-t-wolves-top-ranked-defense |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=www.nba.com |language=en}} On January 22, the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks on the road 119–110. Tatum scored 39 points, while Brown scored 34. Notably, they became the first pair of teammates in NBA history to each tally at least 30 points, two blocks, and no turnovers in the same game.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-23 |title=Tatum and Brown became first duo ever to achieve this feat in same game |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/tatum-brown-became-first-duo-225919139.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} On February 18, Tatum and Brown played together in the 2024 NBA All-Star Game. Brown scored 36, while Tatum scored 20. Their combined 56 points contributed to the East's 211-point victory, the highest of any team in All-Star Game history.{{Cite web |title=Records fall in highest-scoring NBA All-Star Game |url=https://www.nba.com/news/highest-scoing-all-star-game |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=NBA.com |language=en}} The Celtics finished the 2023–24 regular season with a league-best 64–18 record, securing the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

The Celtics also dominated in the 2024 playoffs. Through the postseason, Brown averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, while Tatum averaged nearly a double-double with 25 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists.{{Cite web |title=Jaylen Brown Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/3917376/jaylen-brown |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Jayson Tatum Career Stats - NBA Postseason |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/player/stats/_/id/4065648/jayson-tatum |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=ESPN |language=en}} The Celtics cruised through the Eastern Conference to reach the 2024 NBA Finals, facing the Mavericks. It was the duo's second Finals appearance in three years. In Game 3, Brown and Tatum became the second Celtics duo ever to each score 30+ points in a Finals game. In Game 5, with Boston leading the series 3–1, the duo combined for 52 points, winning the game, series, and championship.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title='I trusted him. He trusted me.' Brown and Tatum answered critics while leading Celtics to 18th title |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/trusted-him-trusted-brown-tatum-054434649.html |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}} It was the duo's first championship, Boston's first championship since 2008, and Boston's 18th championship overall. The Celtics' 16–3 playoffs record was the second-best win percentage since 2003, when all four rounds became best-of-seven. The 107 postseason games for Brown and Tatum were the most of any star duo before winning a championship.{{Cite news |last=Brewer |first=Jerry |date=2024-06-18 |title=Perspective {{!}} Boston's star duo deserves this Celtics celebration |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/18/jayson-tatum-jaylen-brown-celtics-championship/ |access-date=2024-06-19 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Also, by the end of the 2024 playoffs, Tatum was first in playoff points scored before age 27, while Brown was sixth.{{Cite web |title=Most Playoff Points Scored By A Player Before Age 27 |url=https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/most-playoff-points-scored-by-a-player-before-age-27 |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=StatMuse |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2024-06-18 |title=Jayson Tatum breaks Kobe Bryant playoff record in NBA Finals |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nba/boston-celtics/jayson-tatum-kobe-bryant-playoff-record-nba-finals/619197/ |access-date=2024-06-22 |website=NBC Sports Boston |language=en-US}} Overall, in the Finals, Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Despite Tatum having a "strong case",{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Andrew |title=Jaylen Brown Named 2024 Finals MVP over Jayson Tatum as Celtics Win NBA Title |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10125208-jaylen-brown-named-2024-finals-mvp-over-jayson-tatum-as-celtics-win-nba-title |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}} Brown was named NBA Finals MVP. Upon receiving the trophy, he remarked: "I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum. He was with me the whole way."{{Cite web |title=Celtics' Jaylen Brown named 2024 Bill Russell NBA Finals MVP |url=https://www.nba.com/news/nba-finals-mvp-2024 |access-date=2024-06-19 |website=NBA.com |language=en}}

• Splash Brothers
• Twin Towers

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{{Boston Celtics}}

Category:Sports duos

Category:Boston Celtics players

Category:American men's basketball players

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