Watch: Jayson Tatum's priceless reaction to Jaylen Brown hoisting the NBA Finals MVP trophy
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown had another impressive outing as a duo to lead the Boston Celtics to a championship-clinching 106-88 Game 5 win. Boston needed its superstar tandem to deliver to capture the long-awaited 18th Larry O’Brien Trophy. On Monday night, they answered the bell to shut up their critics.
After the Celtics were announced winners, the NBA Finals MVP was awarded to Brown, a recognition Tatum cheered for. While “JT” had arguably a better Game 5, Brown’s overall work on both ends of the court in the series gave him the nod. “JB” insisted that it was a team accomplishment and shared the honor with Tatum.
When Jaylen Brown was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, some of the spotlight was also pointed at Jayson Tatum. Many wanted to know how he would react when it wasn’t him who received the Bill Russell Trophy.
Those who were looking for or expecting a sourly Tatum will be disappointed. Here’s his reaction when his teammate got the said honor:
Over the past few years, narratives have circulated that there is a rivalry between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Their critics pounced on that issue particularly in the Eastern Conference finals when Brown won the Larry Bird ECF MVP award. The shooting guard was surprised to earn the trophy and said he doesn’t win “s**t.”
Leading into Game 1 of the NBA Finals, Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd added more fuel to the talks. He said that it was Jaylen Brown, not Jayson Tatum, who was the Boston Celtics’ best player. The two superstars shrugged off the comments, emphatically saying that they were not strangers to that kind of controversy.
Some fans wanted to accuse Tatum of having a lukewarm to Brown’s achievement when evidence pointed the contrary. When the final buzzer sounded after Game 5, the two shared an emotional embrace to celebrate. They had the kind of reaction that was just difficult to fake.
During his press conference, Tatum told reporters this about Brown's achievement:
"Well deserved. I'm extremely happy for him."
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown make the Celtics elite championship contenders for years
Critics of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown often forget that as much success and failures as they have had, they’re still fairly young. The former turned 26 years old in March while the latter will not be 28 until October. Unlike many teams, the Boston Celtics’ present and future are quite bright.
Brown’s five-year, $286.23 million contract doesn’t kick in until the 2024-25 season. He will be with the Celtics until at least the 2028-29 campaign. Tatum is in the final of a five-year, $163 million contract he signed in 2020 that goes with a $37 million player option next season.
The Boston Celtics and the All-NBA forward are likely headed for a multi-year extension, particularly since they’ve just won a championship. The critics can say all they want, but the two stars have only proved them wrong. Boston isn’t going anywhere with the way it is constructed and run by Brad Stevens.
Many will continue trying to drive a wedge between the Tatum-Brown partnership. Boston’s franchise cornerstones have already proved them wrong. They will be raring to do so again as they compete for more championships in the future.