The mastermind behind the Boston Celtics 2024 NBA Championship is none other than Brad Stevens, the former head coach of the team who advanced to the general manager’s office in 2021 and made the crucial trades that allowed the Celtics to win an NBA championship with overwhelming authority. Following the Finals, the former coach defended the combination of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, labelling criticism of the duo over the years as “stupid” to Rachel Nichols.
The critique is foolish. I don’t care. Compared to most 25- and 26-year-olds, the two have accomplished more. Their performances in late May and early June drew attention. Instead of sucking, I’d rather be in the mix and have my insides torn out. And those two have a very long history of excellence.”
Around Brown and Tatum, the Celtics assembled a formidable group of players eager to dedicate themselves to a certain position, with Brown and Tatum acting as the team’s offensive catalysts.
In the playoffs, Tatum averaged 25.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, while Brown averaged 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. Brown won MVP awards in both the Conference and the Finals despite Tatum’s far higher output because of his exceptional efficiency, clutch plays, and performance at the All-Defense level on the opposing end.