When looking back at the last nine years of Celtics basketball, it will be remembered as the “Jays Era.”
That, of course, refers to the partnership of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, which saw them win more regular-season (477) and playoff games (77) than any other team during their time together. They reached five Eastern Conference Finals, more than any team in that span, along with two NBA Finals, winning one.
But that duo is no longer.
Jaylen Brown now plays more than 300 miles from TD Garden in Philadelphia. Tatum, meanwhile, remains in Boston as the centerpiece of a Celtics team entering a new chapter.
What this new era of Celtics basketball will be called remains to be seen. However, one thing is clear: This is Tatum’s team now.
Even if he doesn’t view it that way.
“It’s not a simple thing of, ‘It’s my team,’” Tatum said. “I understand the roles that we all play on this team. Everybody’s role is different. That’s what makes up the team. We don’t all have the same roles. We all bring something different on a daily basis to make the group better, add to winning, and make this organization better. So it’s not just saying, “It’s my team.” No, I’m not gonna. I’ve got 14 other teammates that I’m gonna lean on, and we all need each other to be better every single day.”
That answer is par for the course for Tatum.
He’s not one to cause a stir with his comments in the media, especially when it comes to something that could become a distraction.
But whether he wants to call it his team or not, it’s not exactly a secret.
This is Tatum’s team.
“Obviously, JT is the guy,” George said.
Tatum may never be the rah-rah leader that some people want him to be. That’s simply not who he is.
Tatum has never been the type of player to bark at opponents or wear his emotions on his sleeve. He’s not going to suddenly become that guy, and there’s no reason for him to.
What has changed, though, is how much he’s willing to take on within the team. His teammates have seen him become more vocal over the years, and Tatum said he feels “very comfortable” taking on a larger leadership role following Brown’s departure.
“I think he’s definitely [grown] since I’ve been here. Every year he’s gotten more vocal — more of a leader,” Derrick White said. “He definitely has his own unique way of being a leader, and I think he does a good job of – I mean, one, he puts in the work. Everybody sees him here, and when you have a guy like that, that’s here every day and puts in the work, you come in here, you’re like, I’ve gotta reach that level. So that’s the first thing. And then just someone that cares about his teammates. Wants the best out of them.”
There are already signs of Tatum taking on that larger role.
As he prepares for his 10th NBA season, Tatum organized a trip to Los Angeles to build chemistry with a group that includes four new faces on the standard roster: George, Mitchell Robinson, Mike Conley and rookie Chris Cenac Jr.
Those workouts carried over to the Auerbach Center in Boston.
“JT hit the group chat, invited us all out. Most of us were able to make it work with our schedules, so it was cool to get a bunch of guys out there earlier and kind of get acclimated and get used to being around each other,” Sam Hauser said. “It was a lot of fun. We did a lot of work on the court, played some golf, had some dinners, so it was a lot of fun.”
Added Conley, “He called everybody and said, ‘Hey, let’s go work out. Let’s go meet. Let’s spend about 7-8 days out there, go golf, go out to eat.’ He is setting up all kinds of things off the court. He’s bringing in huddles after practices and every workout we have; he has something to say, calling guys out and just really taking ownership of the situation. I think that’s big.”
That’s what Tatum’s leadership looks like. It’s not necessarily about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about setting the tone, putting in the work, and taking ownership of the group around him.
He is one of the most decorated players in franchise history and one of the best in the league, highlighted by four consecutive First-Team All-NBA selections before his injury.
His pedigree has earned the respect of his teammates.
“When he tells you to do something, or he sees something, you listen, you respect it,” White said. “I think he does a great job of that.”
Leadership comes in different forms. Tatum’s may not always resemble the passion and fire that some people want to see from him, but his teammates clearly believe in the way he leads.
“From the outside looking in, I always thought he was one of the best players in the league. Getting to know him now, he’s a guy that I feel is really coming into his own as a leader. A guy that’s ready to make a jump,” Conley said. “I think after the last couple of years with injury and things like that, he has a lot to prove, and he’s out there trying to prove it. I’m excited for him and his growth.”
Tatum may not want to call this his team.
But there’s no question who the Celtics will be looking to as they move forward.
