The Boston Celtics are in the midst of one of their most impressive seasons to date, sitting at 37-15 — third in the Eastern Conference — as bonafide Conference Finals contenders.
While the offseason pickup — or rather, point guard swap — for All-Star floor general Kemba Walker has paid dividends and the play of a rejuvenated Gordon Hayward has been a pleasant surprise, there are two young players whose play means more to the Boston Celtics than any other pairing: wings Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. The young duo have been dominant on both sides of the ball this season, taking the proverbial leap in what are their fourth and third seasons respectively.
Tatum’s rise, after he was pegged to be the future face of the franchise, comes as no surprise. Brown’s evolution, however, has been as jaw-dropping as the powerful dunks he often throws down.
Their play has earned them respect, league-wide, as both were listed as finalists for the Team USA’s 44-man preliminary roster for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo (along with Walker, Hayward and defensive stalwart Marcus Smart). It’s even led to a particularly notable former Celtic, Kendrick Perkins, declaring that they should remain in Boston for their entire career.
There may be no honor greater than that when it comes from a no-nonsense Celtics champion like Big Perk, who made the comments prior to Boston’s nationally-televised matchup against the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
“I tweeted this and I meant this — Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum should retire as Celtics. They should be Celtics for life.”
💬@KendrickPerkins: "Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum should retire as #Celtics. They should be Celtics for life."
(He wants @danielrainge to hear this) pic.twitter.com/csE9i0e4Gf
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) February 12, 2020
Perkins’ message wasn’t just for the fans or the sensational young duo, as he made clear. It was for Celtics president and general manager Danny Ainge, too.
“Aye Danny, I know you hear me alright.”
Averaging a combined 42.4 points (both are averaging at least 20.0 points per game), 13.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game, Brown and Tatum are hitting on all cylinders. Their skill, shooting stroke, awareness and effort are all top-notch, allowing them to have a 4-3 record against the only teams with a better win-loss record than them so far this season (the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers).
It’s not a Finals-or-bust season for the Celtics, especially with the Bucks and Lakers both appearing primed to make the NBA Finals. Instead, what it does is give the team confidence that they’ll be hoisting a Larry O’Brien trophy in the near future.
They could, if they continue on this path, have multiple runs to the NBA Finals.
Even if they don’t and they only win one championship in Boston like Paul Pierce instead of three like Larry Bird (we’ll leave Bill Russell’s 11 championships out of the conversation), nobody would bat an eye. They would end up with their jerseys in the rafters of TD Garden and deservedly so.
That’s may seem like fantasy more than reality but with the appreciation Celtics fans have for great players, particularly ones who stay in Boston for all or most of their career, it could be their future.
Of course, Ainge could always see trading one of them as an avenue towards greater success — as he seemed to with Tatum last season — and they could always leave for their own reasons. But if the front office can hold onto them, there doesn’t appear to be any reason not to.
Not right now, anyways.