So, we were sold a bill of goods, that Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown appreciated the other so much that personal glory would be set aside for winning.
The last few years, chasing championships, the duo said what we thought was true, that they are “all good” sharing the spotlight with the other dude.
That apparently was and currently is poppycock, aka false.
At least from Brown’s perspective.
No longer walking on egg shells when the topic turned to their “relationship,” Brown all but said he enjoyed being the alpha so much this past fall and winter, that it was more fun that their only championship and Brown’s MVP trophies in the Eastern Conference and Finals.
Wow.
Worse, at least from what the masses have said, Brown said it within 24 hours of the Celtics hugely disappointing first round playoff exit.
Brown’s pal, Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, noted that there is some sort of rift within the organization:
“I think his frustration lies deeply within the organization and other things that we don’t really have the details to. There’s just been a lot of stuff that I’ve been hearing just going on with the Boston organization, with JB.”
What does that mean?
Another weird cryptic response came from Tatum’s Instagram account, posting a Denzel Washington snippet talking about “believability” when it comes to news, the desire to be first instead of being correct.
What does that mean?
Simply put, there is a trouble in paradise.
Most of the push back, at least publicly, is on Brown’s end; the point being he is not Robin to anybody, intimating this season’s performance – Brown probably be All-NBA’s first teamer – was not only “fun” but proof he can guide a championship-contending team.
Is he right, pointing toward the No. 2 seed the Celtics sealed without Tatum’s presence for 80 percent of the regular season?
He had a chance in Game 7 of the first round series with the Sixers to seal that deal, but in the end despite Brown’s 33 points and Derrick White’s mini-explosion of 26 points, the vaunted “3-point offense” was stale.
The late great Raiders coach John Madden once said “If you have two quarterbacks, then you have none.”
In 2025-26 Celtics-speak, when you have two alphas you really have none.
What was Brown’s “frustration,” according to McGrady?
Here’s my educated guess:
Tatum has gotten royal treatment from the Celtics, almost as soon as he got here. His son, Deuce, has had free reign all over the TD Garden and locker room. There was a game Tatum missed in Dec. 2022 to attend Deuce’s 5-year-old birthday party in St. Louis.
On the court, Tatum, for most of the last half-dozen years, usually took the last shot to tie or win a game.
Tatum was Batman. Brown was Robin.
Then the 2023-24 championship happened, which included Brown’s game-tying 3-pointer in the closing seconds of the Conference Finals opener against Indiana, later taking the MVP Award.
Two weeks later the Celtics won the NBA Championship over Dallas, with Brown winning the Bill Russell Award as MVP for his two-way play while Tatum struggled mightily in the playoffs with his outside shot.
The two seasons after title win the Celtics were very good, sometimes great, but in the playoffs last year and this year, the offense was horrible.
Brown didn’t wait a few weeks or even a month to make his feelings felt. He did less than 24 hours.
It puts Brad Stevens, as close to Red Auerbach as you’re going to get in talent evaluation, in a difficult position with Brown basically drawing a line in the sand.
Brown isn’t without faults as a player. While a top 5 NBA player this past regular season, his ball-handling is subpar, maybe a tiny bit better than in previous seasons.
While he has added muscles the past few years, and he has one of the game’s best mid-range jump shots, he is way too sloppy trying to drive into or through double teams.
And he is nowhere near the play-maker Tatum is.
But if we’re being honest, at the end of a game when a shot needs to be made, I’m calling Brown’s name over Tatum every day and twice on Sundays.
The “elephant in the room” as it pertains to Brown, outside of his new-found confidence is his contract. He not only will be paid $57M, $61M and $65M the next three seasons, but he is eligible for a two-year, $142M extension this summer.
Stevens has a big decision to make.
Tatum is expected to be his old self next year, fully recovered from his torn Achilles, ready to be “The Guy” and top five NBA player.
Brown is not only inferring he’s not playing second fiddle to Tatum, but maybe even that he’s the Batman on this team going forward.
Or else.
I’m wondering what their teammates think. Payton Pritchard’s career his ascending while White’s may be, slightly, descending with $90M coming his way the next three years.
Baylor Scheierman, Neemias Queta and Jordan Walsh, all players Brown mentioned as contributors this season while Tatum was on the shelf, unexpectedly improved their games.
What do they think?
We may find out everything in the next two months, particularly Stevens’ opinion on which player, Tatum or Brown, is the right guy to lead the this team. As for the other player, he’s not going to be here.
Brown and Tatum, indirectly, are done faking their friendship/respect.
Stay tuned. This story is only going to get louder.
You can email Bill Burt at bburt@eagletribune.com.