Inside The Celtics

Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown on Teaming in All-Star Game: 'For the City of Boston'

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have built special bonds with the city they star in.

Bobby Krivitsky

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for 56 points at the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, helping the Eastern Conference become the first team to reach and eclipse 200 points in the league's marquee exhibition event.

The former finished with 20 points on 8/13 shooting, including burying 4/9 attempts from beyond the arc. One of those threes came after an underhanded dish from the other half of the Boston Celtics star duo.

He also registered three assists, three rebounds, a steal, and a block in the East's 211-186 win.

Brown, now a three-time All-Star, produced 36 points, the second-most for the Eastern Conference, and eight rebounds, including five at the offensive end. He also distributed three assists and swiped a steal during his 22 minutes on the floor.

After the victory, they discussed teaming up in an NBA All-Star Game for the first time.

"It was cool being on the same team as J.T. this time," expressed Brown. "It was pretty cool. We got the win, and we had fun. I think it's just another platform to continue to raise for yourself, but also raise for the city of Boston; just represent. I think that's what we kind of look at it as. That's what we've become."

Tatum voiced, "All-Star Weekend is special. And it's always more special when you get to share it with a teammate or two. I've been fortunate enough to share it with him three times now. It was great. It was great to have a teammate, (a) familiar face around. Especially, (since) we got to share the same locker room. It's a special weekend for us, for our families, (and) obviously for our team, the Celtics. So, it's always great."

Brown arrived in Boston as a 20-year-old; Tatum was 19. They've grown into adulthood and NBA stardom there. They've earned All-Star and All-NBA selections and led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference Finals in four of their first six years together.

While they and C's fans around the globe hope they check the championship box this June, they've built special connections with Boston, with the former sharing at his summer press conference after signing the most lucrative contract in NBA history that his first thoughts were about revolutionary goals for how he could help the local community.

Tatum has referred to the city he stars in as his second home and a place he's fallen in love with since getting drafted there.

The pride they take in representing the Celtics and Boston represents the connection every fan base hopes to have with its star players.

Further Reading

Jayson Tatum Addresses Discourse Around His MVP Candidacy

Jaylen Brown Doesn't Win Dunk Contest but Delivers Most Poignant Moment

Kristaps Porzingis Shares How First Season with Celtics Compares to His Expectations: 'Haven't Stopped Smiling'

Jayson Tatum's Approach vs. Nets Tale of Two Halves and Steadfast Commitment

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Brad Stevens Sheds Light on Celtics' Motivations for Xavier Tillman Trade

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'

Jaylen Brown Shares His View of What Defines 'Celtics Basketball'

Published
Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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