Paul George and DeMar DeRozan were confident the dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown would sooner or later achieve success together in the NBA.
After five trips to the Conference Finals and falling short in the 2022 NBA Finals, many basketball pundits lost faith in the Boston Celtics duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Some think they are too much of the same player, while others are questioning their chemistry.
Paul George and DeMar DeRozan, however, are in the minority. A year ago on the Podcast P show, the multi-time All-Stars discussed this polarizing topic and saw what many didn’t—the Celtics should keep them together if the franchise wants to win. Needless to say, George and DeRozan’s words turned out to be prophetic.
Paul George: “With Tatum, with Jaylen– they play off each other so well. It’s not like it’s, “You get a shot, I get a shot.” He be in attack mode, Tatum be in attack mode. They looking for each other, they looking for one another. Honestly, I hope they stay together.
DeMar DeRozan: I hope so, too.
Paul George: Look where they at!
DeMar DeRozan: And it’s like, it’s so hard to find two talented wings in our game to be on the same team. And those guys have gained so much experience already playing together. Being in the Finals, Conference Finals, All-Stars…
Paul George: You think about legacy, they doing it in Boston. And they got a chance, if they stay together, if they build their s— out, they got a chance to be up there with some of the greatest players we’ve ever seen.
DeMar DeRozan: No question.
Sticking to their Guns
Credit the Celtics. The team did not cave in to external pressure, and they stuck to their guns. Believing in the Jays paid off handsomely. The duo led the franchise to its 18th championship banner, breaking the tie with their arch-rivals in Los Angeles. With their experience coming to the fore, Boston made quick work of the Dallas Mavericks in a gentleman’s sweep.
Instead of splitting Tatum and Brown up, the Celtics made savvy moves in the offseason. The front office recognized that Derrick White could handle ballhandling duties, so they traded Marcus Smart and got Kristaps Porzingis and draft picks in return. For the first time in so long, the Celtics now have considerable front-court talent to balance their already talented backcourt.
The wheeling and dealing did not stop there. Less than a month before the season opened, they acquired Jrue Holiday from Portland in a deal that centered around Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams III, and one of the picks they secured in the Porzingis trade.
The rest, they say, is history.
Still The Team to Beat
Some fans try to discredit the 2024 Celtics by claiming they had the easiest path to the Finals. After all, the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Indiana Pacers were decimated by injuries. However, they should simply give credit to where it’s due. Half of the battle is showing up, and the Celtics certainly did.
With their core intact, Boston is expected to be the team to beat next season. Brown, Tatum, Porzingis, Holiday, and White are under contract for 2024-25. All signs also point to Al Horford and Payton Pritchard returning.
As for Tatum, the 26-year-old Duke product is eligible for a contract extension worth $315 million over five years. That’s the largest in NBA history after, you guessed it, Jaylen Brown. JB signed a five-year, $305 million deal last season, locking the 2024 Finals MVP until 2029.
Fortunately for the Celtics, the roll of the dice paid off. Maybe, for them, it’s not too much of a gamble. Nine times out of 10, keeping two high-caliber All-Stars on the same team is a no-brainer, and they’re reaping the benefits possibly for years to come.
