For years, one of the biggest criticisms of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is that they are “not leaders.” It’s a lazy narrative that people have used frequently, losing sight that the duo is 25 and 27 years old, respectively.
Arguably, the most impactful part of Marcus Smart’s game was the voice and leadership he provided for the team. So, when the Celtics traded Smart over the offseason, a leadership void was left, a void Brad Stevens was hoping Tatum and Brown would assume.
“We need Jayson and Jaylen to continue to grow in that area,” Stevens told WEEI’s Jones and Mego with Arcand in late August. “We think they are among the best that there can be, so we need them to step up to that.”
Tatum and Brown got the memo. Following the Celtics’ acquisition of Jrue Holiday on the eve of training camp, Tatum organized a players-only meeting with Boston’s top six -- himself, Brown, Kristaps Porzingis, Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Al Horford -- to discuss the sacrifices needed to pursue a championship.
“I wanted us to get in the room and talk about it,” Tatum told ESPN. “We all are human and have feelings, and I opened the floor and basically said, ‘There’s six of us. Only five can play at one time. One of us is not going to finish the game all the time.
“Whether it’s fair or not, me and JB are probably going to always start, and always finish the game. But we have to be held to a different standard and be able to be coached differently. Whether it’s KP and Al, one of you guys may not finish a game, and you have to be OK with that.”
The notion of “sacrifice” is frequently tossed around in sports, particularly when it comes to teams boasting exceptional talent, such as the Celtics.
Among Boston’s top six players are 16 All-Star appearances, five All-NBA selections, and seven All-Defensive team nods. In a league where box score statistics and metrics dominate the headlines, it goes without saying – stepping back from their usual standards is no small endeavor.
However, the Celtics have practiced what they preached, and that selfless mentality starts with Boston’s leaders – Tatum and Brown.
“Joe [Mazzulla] has definitely mentioned it, but we as players gotta buy in. JT has probably been the most vocal about it,” Derrick White told WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show when discussing the team’s unselfish nature.
“[He’s] like, ‘I don’t care if I just score 18 points or whatever. If we win and get to the end goal, I’m gonna be happy it.’ A guy at his position that’s willing to take that sacrifice, it definitely means a lot. JB has done the same thing, too. [He’s] like, ‘How can I make the right play each time down that’s not me scoring or me even being involved in the play?’”
The principle of “sacrifice” has stood as a pillar of Boston’s success this season, deeply ingrained in the ethos of the 2023-24 Celtics, with much credit owed to the leadership of Tatum and Brown.
While they may never have the loudest voices, their impact resonates deeply. Through their actions on and off the court, they epitomize authentic leadership.
Success starts with great leaders, and the Celtics are fortunate to have two great leaders as the faces of their franchise.
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