Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown has led his team to one of the best records in the NBA this season without Jayson Tatum, which for JR Smith means this is no longer Tatum's team. With Tatum's potential return to the Celtics, many wonder how Boston will adjust to Jason Tatum's midseason debut.
while brown have been leaders For the Celtics this season, that's been their title for Jaylen for years, Smith said, according to To The Baha.
"It's always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He's the leader. Isn't he? First of all, he protects everybody. It's always been his team. It's his team," Smith said. "To the players, I'm sure it's their team; to everyone else in the media on the outside, it's Jayson Tatum's team. That's the way they want to show it. Internally, it's Jaylen Brown's team.
"Jaylen Brown is the leader of that team. 100 percent on and off the court. Fact. I guarantee you he commands more film sessions, practices than JT. He's the leader of that team."
"It's always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He's the leader. Isn't he? ... To the players, I'm pretty sure it's his team; to everybody else in the media on the outside, it's Jayson Tatum's team."
- JR Smith 🤔
(via @ToTheBaha)pic.twitter.com/mnELzcwFk9
- ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 4 March 2026
In Brown and Tatum's second NBA Finals appearance in two years, Brown won the 2024 Finals MVP award after capturing his first title.
NBA insider says Jayson Tatum will need to adjust to new Celtics
NBA insider Chris Mannix believes the Celtics are Jaylen Brown's team who will have to accommodate Jayson Tatum if he returns from his nearly season-long Achilles injury. Tatum has to do it slowly work your way back Mannix said, according to FanDuel TV's Run It Back, linking up with the Browns and the Celtics.
"I think [Jayson] Tatum knows that by coming back he is stepping into Jaylen Brown's team. "Brown is a top-five, top-six MVP candidate this year," Mannix said. "He's put this team on his back offensively." And Tatum will have to find a way to fit in.
This is Jaylen Brown's team now 👀
With the pending return of Jayson Tatum, @SIChrisMannix I don't think there is a chemistry problem.
Tatum knows this is Brown's team. pic.twitter.com/wgMkvmJHDF
- Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) 4 March 2026
In 54 games played, Brown is averaging 29 points per game, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists per game with one steal. He is shooting 48% from the field and 34.9% from three-point range. He has been the catalyst for the Celtics' success as they have kept themselves in the news as NBA title contenders.
