BOSTON – When Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown placed the Bill Russell Trophy above his head after being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, his place in franchise history was cemented. However, the all-time leading Celtic moved up to 10th on the Green team's all-time scoring list during Wednesday night's 120-99 win over the Golden State Warriors.
In the second quarter, Brown sank two free throws to surpass Celtics great and 1973 MVP Dave Cowens on the Giants leaderboard. The five-time All-Star now has 13,202 points in 10 seasons, trailing his fellow Celtics star Jayson Tatum by 705 points. The player right in front of the Celtics' spectacular tandem is an almost legendary player: 11-time NBA champion Bill Russell.
"I'm very grateful," Brown said in the locker room after his impressive milestone. "There are a lot of greats on that list that have made huge contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball. So I'm very humbled and very grateful to be in the position I'm in."
Jaylen Brown on entering the top-10 scoring list for the Celtics:
"I'm very grateful. Many of the legends on that list have made great contributions to the Celtics as well as the game of basketball." pic.twitter.com/f49h93xmHL
- Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026
Brown didn't miss a beat to start the game, hitting back-to-back jumpers against a woefully understaffed Warriors team at TD Garden. Although the Dubs – who were without four-time NBA champion Stephen Curry due to a knee injury – tried to make it a contest, Brown and Tatum always had offensive answers. They scored a combined 56 points in the blowout (game-high 32 points from Brown and 24 points from Tatum), while no Warrior scored more than 14 points.
Tatum said of Brown's historic run, "It just shows the dedication and commitment he has to his craft and getting better every year." "I've watched him grow and get better every year over the last nine years and become the player he is today. It's great when you get rewarded for the work you've done."
During Tatum's 62-game absence this regular season, which was the result of a diligent rehab process from an Achilles rupture, Brown paved the way for the shorthanded C. He averaged career highs practically across the board and has continued to do so since Tatum's return on March 6.
With both Tatum and Brown starting this season, the Celtics are 5-1 and have won three in a row. And it's no surprise that the same dynamic duo that led Boston to a championship in 2024 is aiming to do so again in 2026.
Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said about working with Tatum and Brown, "You're not only able to coach some of the best players in the game today, but you're able to coach some of the best players of all time." "so [there's] “Just my gratitude for being able to see him.”
To put it in perspective, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will already be the all-time leading scorers for the Magic, Pelicans, Grizzlies, Clippers, Hornets and Nets. https://t.co/FfBXc5rb5l
- Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) 19 March 2026
We need to remember what Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum accomplished
Even though the 46-23 Celtics are generally accustomed to winning, what Tatum and Brown have accomplished together is special. They would be the all-time scoring leaders of six other NBA franchises at this time and have more playoff wins than many teams.
Furthermore, they represent the Celtics well and are dedicated to Boston.
Tatum showed his commitment by attacking his difficult rehabilitation every day off the court this season, ultimately culminating in a victorious return that was well ahead of schedule. Brown, meanwhile, has further demonstrated his dedication on the court recently by having an MVP-caliber campaign when many pundits expected him to flop as part of a flawed roster.
“For Jaylen, I think the responsibility and ownership of being a Celtic and going after greatness is extremely important, it's something he takes very seriously,” Mazzulla responded when asked about Brown entering the upper echelon of Celtics scorers. “The ability to make and participate in history is the stepping stone to [the franchise] Better than what you found.”
There's no doubt that Tatum and Brown have changed the Celtics organization for the better, but that doesn't mean they're satisfied. They want more, and “more” will come in the form of a second championship ring this June.
"I felt like I could always be one of the top players in the world if given the opportunity, and I think I've got to show that this season," Brown said after Monday night's 41-point loss to the Phoenix Suns. “The focus now is on getting ready for the playoffs.”
