Boston Celtics
2017–18
The duo made its 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. [9] 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. [10] [11] 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. [12] [13] 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. [14] 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." [15]
2018–19
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. [16] [17] 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. [18] [19] The Celtics made it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals, where they lost to Milwaukee Bucks in five games.
2019–20
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. [20] [21]
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, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. [22] [23] The Celtics returned to the Eastern Conference Finals, but lost to Miami Heat in six games.
2020–21
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. [24] [25] 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. [26] On May 10, it was announced that Brown would miss the rest of the season due to injury. [27] 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. [28] The Celtics were eliminated in the first round for the first time in either of the duo's career.
2021–22
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. [29] [30] 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. [31] [32] [33] [34]
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. [35] [36] 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. [37] During the Finals, Brown and Tatum were the highest-scoring players on their team, averaging 23.5 points and 21.5 points, respectively. [38]
2022–23
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. [39] [40] 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. [41] [42] 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 came back to tie the series at 3–3, but lost the series in seven games.
2023–24
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. [43]
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. [44] [45] 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. [46] 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. [47] 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. [48] 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. [49] [50] The Celtics cruised through an injury-laden 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. [51] 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. [52] Also, by the end of the 2024 playoffs, Tatum was first in playoff points scored before age 27, while Brown was sixth. [53] [54] Overall, in the Finals, Brown averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists, while Tatum averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Despite Tatum having a "strong case", [55] 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." [56]
The NBA Finals is the annual championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Eastern and Western Conference champions play a best-of-seven-game series to determine the league champion. The team that wins the series is awarded the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy, which replaced the original Walter A. Brown Trophy in 1976–77, though under the same name until 1984.
Tayshaun Durell Prince is an American professional basketball executive and former player. The 6-foot-9-inch (2.06 m) small forward graduated from Dominguez High School before playing college basketball for the University of Kentucky. He was drafted 23rd overall by the Detroit Pistons in the 2002 NBA draft and went on to win a championship with the team in 2004.
Paul Anthony Pierce is an American former professional basketball player. He played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), predominantly with the Boston Celtics. As of March 2024, he is a contributor to the FS1 sports talk show Undisputed.
Alfred Joel Horford Reynoso, nicknamed "Big Al", is a Dominican professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He is a five-time NBA All-Star and won the 2024 NBA Finals
This is a comprehensive list of the accomplishments and records of the Boston Celtics. The Celtics are an American professional basketball team currently playing in the National Basketball Association.
Jimmy Butler III is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Jimmy Buckets" and "Playoff Jimmy", he is a six-time NBA All-Star, a five-time All-NBA Team honoree, and a five-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team honoree. He won a gold medal as a member of the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
The 2014 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2013–14 season and the conclusion of the season's playoffs, played from June 5 to 15, 2014. It was contested between two-time defending NBA champion and Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat and the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. In a rematch, the Spurs defeated the Heat 4–1 for their 5th title overall. Kawhi Leonard was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP), receiving 10 out of 11 votes.
Nikola Jokić is a Serbian professional basketball player who is a center for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Joker", he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players and centers of all time, and is often considered the greatest draft steal in NBA history. A six-time NBA All-Star, Jokić has been named to the All-NBA Team on six occasions, and won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award for the 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2023–24 seasons. He represents the Serbian national team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Jaylen Marselles Brown is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played one year of college basketball for the California Golden Bears and was named first-team all-conference and Freshman of the Year in the Pac-12 Conference.
Jayson Christopher Tatum is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was a McDonald's All-American in high school in Missouri and played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils. Tatum was selected by the Boston Celtics with the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft and was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in the 2018 season.
Donovan Mitchell Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Cavaliers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "Spida", he was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NBA draft and acquired by the Utah Jazz, whom he played for from 2017 to 2022. He is a five-time NBA All-Star.
Derrick Richard White is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). Nicknamed "the Buffalo", White played three years of college basketball in Division II for the Colorado–Colorado Springs Mountain Lions before transferring to Division I's Colorado for his final year.
Payton Michael Pritchard is an American professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Oregon Ducks. As a sophomore, Pritchard earned second-team all-conference honors in the Pac-12. In his senior year, he was a finalist for the Naismith Trophy. Selected 26th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Celtics, Pritchard reached the NBA Finals with the team in both 2022 and 2024, securing a championship in 2024.
The 2022 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2021–22 season and conclusion of the season's playoffs. In this best-of-seven playoff series, the Western Conference champion Golden State Warriors defeated the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics in six games, winning their fourth championship in eight years. Golden State's Stephen Curry was named the Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the first time in his career.
The 2022 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2021–22 season. The playoffs began on April 16 and ended on June 16 with the conclusion of the 2022 NBA Finals. The playoffs also returned to its normal April–June schedule for the first time since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in two postponements in 2020 and 2021.
The 2023 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2022–23 season. The playoffs began on April 15 and concluded on June 12 with the Denver Nuggets winning the 2023 NBA Finals, their first title in franchise history.
The Celtics–Heat rivalry is a National Basketball Association (NBA) rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Miami Heat.
The 2024 NBA playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's (NBA) 2023–24 season. The playoffs began on April 20 and concluded on June 17 with the Boston Celtics winning the 2024 NBA Finals for their 18th championship, the most in NBA history.
The 2024 NBA Finals was the championship series of the National Basketball Association (NBA)'s 2023–24 season and conclusion to the season's playoffs. The best-of-seven playoffs was played between the Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics and the Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks. The series started on June 6, and concluded on June 17.
