For the first time in his professional career, Jayson Tatum wasn’t alongside longtime co-star Jaylen Brown.
It was different. Not bad. But different.
Instead of taking the floor with the other half of the Jays, Tatum shared it with 36-year-old Paul George — a future Hall of Famer nearing the final stage of his career. Tatum grew up watching George torch the Eastern Conference during his heyday and welcomed PG-13 with open arms as Boston thrashed the Sixers 144-106 in a preseason win at TD Garden on Saturday
night.
“It’s kind of surreal, a little bit,” Tatum told reporters, per CLNS Media.
Change, most times, can be difficult. It can even be uncomfortable. But for Tatum, having George along for the ride this upcoming season is a change the 28-year-old superstar is looking forward to.
While Tatum began molding his identity as a young prospect coming out of Chaminade College Preparatory School in Creve Coeur, Missouri, he watched George closely from afar. By the time Tatum declared for the 2017 NBA Draft coming out of Duke, George’s name was repeatedly floated as a suitable comparison for Tatum.
“I was in high school, kind of modeling my game after him and watching film of him when I was in high school. In college, I remember I had to be the first player in college to wear PG-1s. I remember that. … That was 2016 or early 2017. So, like, I’ve always been a fan of PG and just to be able to be his teammate and learn from him, him to take on the role of being a mentor of assistance to myself and other guys, who’ve obviously watched him play for a long time, it’s cool to be a part of.”
It took a while for George to get going. He missed his first four shot attempts before knocking down an open top-of-the-key 3-pointer, extending Boston’s lead to 18 points late in the second quarter and forcing Philadelphia into a timeout. George immediately crouched down, looking directly at the parquet as if letting out a sigh of relief after finally getting on the board for the first time as a Celtic.
Although he finished with only 3-of-10 shooting for 13 points in 24 minutes, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla already envisions what George will bring to the team this upcoming season.
“He’s got great instincts,” Mazzulla told reporters, per CLNS Media. “Great instincts. Great technique. Great positioning. It’s something he takes pride in, but I do think it’s very contagious.”
Brown joined Sixers teammates Joel Embiid, LeBron James, Anfernee Simons, and Tacko Fall on the bench, watching the offensive clinch the new-look Celtics unloaded.
Before the game, Brown warmed up alongside Tatum, albeit on the opposite side of the court. The scene reinforced what had already become official, marking the beginning of a new chapter in both their respective careers and the next page in the historic Celtics-Sixers rivalry.
It’s not only a challenge for the millions of Celtics fans still mourning Brown’s departure and struggling to bear the sight of him playing alongside LeBron. It’s an adjustment for Tatum, too, who spent years sharing the spotlight with Brown and is now Boston’s undisputed alpha.
For the first time in his NBA career, Tatum will enter a season without Brown by his side. The expectations, however, remain unchanged. They didn’t leave with Brown for Philadelphia.
Tatum is now set to share the floor with a player he grew up idolizing — one he’s eager to learn from as the Celtics enter a new era.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Tatum told reporters.
