As the Boston Celtics closed in on their series-clinching victory this Monday, the debate over Finals MVP dominated the headlines. While he wasn't great tonight with a shooting efficiency of just 30.4%, Brown's performance throughout the series managed to get him the Finals MVP nod in the end.
"It was a full team effort, and I share this with my brothers and my partner in crime. Jayson Tatum, he was with me the whole way. So we share this sh*t together."
"I share this with my brothers ... we share this s--- together."
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 18, 2024
Jaylen Brown after winning Finals MVP pic.twitter.com/KdyJXuJWrt
The Celtics duo came together back in 2017 when Tatum was drafted with the 3rd overall pick. There have been a lot of ups and downs over the years with various teammates, but those two have remained together through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Now, it's nothing but good times for the superstars fresh off their first title run together as a unit.
The Celtics went 16-3 during this amazing run, beating the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers , and Indiana Pacers to advance to the Finals. In just five games, they handled the Mavericks and proved their place at the top of the basketball world by helping them win their 18th championship in Celtics history.
Brown, 27, has long been thought of as Jayson Tatum's sidekick but he proved tonight, and throughout the entire playoffs, that he's capable of stepping up to be the Celtics' best player on any given night. While most would think that Jayson Tatum might feel resentment or jealousy, watching his teammate capture the Finals MVP, he looked nothing but happy for him during the big reveal.
Jayson Tatum is happy for Jaylen Brown. ✊
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) June 18, 2024
pic.twitter.com/Hxr3dLaXeg
Over the past five games, Jaylen (a 3x All-Star) averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He made a massive impact defensively and stepped up when Tatum was struggling to get it going. Jaylen has been a steady hand for the Celtics for the past few months now and his relationship with Jayson Tatum has never been stronger.
Earlier in the series, Jason Kidd tried to drive a wedge between Tatum and Brown, but they didn't fall for the bait. Instead, they came together and put their egos aside for the sake of winning it all. With their championship run now fully complete, the Celtics feel no regrets and are ready to celebrate their season's worth of hard work.
More must-reads:
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!