Zolak & Bertrand: Is Jaylen Brown the best player on the Celtics?

Author Tyler Milliken

June 19th 12:28 PM

On Wednesday’s edition of Zolak & Bertrand, we ask if Jaylen Brown is now the #1 player on the Celtics after winning Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP.

Jayson Tatum is still that guy.

Marc Bertrand:

Despite the fact that Jayson Tatum played great in the finals and played well in the Eastern Conference Finals, Jaylen Brown was better. Does that mean that he’s now going forward not the Celtics best player?

Scott Zolak:

Was Cedric Maxwell the best player in 1981?

Marc Bertrand:

On the roster? Based off name recognition? No.

Scott Zolak:

Well, he had a hell of a finals. Just because you have a hell of a run there for a while doesn’t mean you’re the best player on the team. I can say that. Jayson Tatum is your best player. Even though I like Brown better as a player. That doesn’t mean he’s the best player. That’s what I like. That’s your opinion.

And I thought Brown start to finish was the best in the playoffs. I thought Tatum had to labor if that makes sense because it is work and you’re getting doubled. You got to be right. You got to be smart with your passes. You need to have great vision. You got to make good decisions.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you’re having the best series. But you’re doing it for the betterment of the team. When the word sacrifice is put out there and used to describe someone’s performance. You’re giving up something you do really well for the betterment of others and that facilitated Brown to have a great series.

Celtics 2024 championship celebration — BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with teammates after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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Tyler Milliken started out at the Sports Hub as an intern in 2020 for the Zolak & Bertrand program before eventually becoming the associate producer in late 2021. He often joins the baseball conversation on Zolak & Bertrand and is a contributor to The Baseball Hour throughout the season. Along with that, he has been a co-host on DraftKings Name Redacted Podcast with Jared Carrabis for the last two years, where they cover everything going on with the Red Sox. Born and raised in Brockton, he reps the city proudly.

A summary of Boston championships in this millennium

In this millennium, compiling a summary of Boston championships is something of a never-ending task. In that way, it’s a little like home ownership. As soon as you finish one project, there always seems to be another.

But those are good problems to have.

Now that the Celtics have dispatched the Dallas Mavericks for the 18th title in franchise history, it felt like a good time to revisit the city’s historic run to the start of this millennium, during which Boston has now won 13 titles in 22 years, including at least one in each of the four major North American team sports. The Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins have gone a collective 13-7 in final games/series, a winning percentage of .650 against what is, theoretically, the toughest competition in sports.

To this point, only the Bruins have failed to win multiple championships, though they did make three appearances in the Stanley Cup Final between 2011-2019.

Where you rank all these championships is entirely up to you, but suffice it to say that championships are truly like fingerprints, each possessing distinguishing characteristics. The most rewarding of those championships? You might say the 2004 Red Sox. The most heart-stopping? Probably the 2014 Patriots. In the wake of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings, the 2013 Red Sox title meant a great deal to the community. The 2011 Bruins run may have been the most rewarding.

Regardless, each of the 13 had their own story, some (like the 2001 Patriots) associated with beginnings and others (like the 2018 Patriots) associated with endings.

These Celtics? Well, they could be both. Boston has been tracking toward this title for several years, after all, beginning when Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each were selected with the third pick of consecutive NBA drafts.

Since that time, the Celtics have played in six conference championships, bringing their total in this millennium to 10. (Boston teams overall have made a resounding 33 trips to the league semifinals in the 2000s – 13 for the Patriots, 10 for the Celtics, seven for the Red Sox and three for the Bruins.) And yet, now that Brown and Tatum have entered their peak years, one can’t help but wonder if the duo is merely beginning their own championship era.

Today, we stop asking if Tatum and Brown can win a championship together.

And we start asking how many.

Like we said, one project inevitably leads to another.

A summary of Boston championships beginning with the Patriots’ extraordinary title in 2001:

2001 Patriots

Adam Vinatieri is a four-time Super Bowl champion who holds the record most career points in NFL history.

It seems preposterous now, but there was a time where Boston seemed … well … cursed. After the Celtics won the 1986 NBA championship, Boston went nearly 16 years without another title, enduring from heartbreak (the 1986 Red Sox, the 2003 Red Sox) to tragedy (Len Bias, Reggie Lewis).

But then Tom Brady showed up in Foxboro and Adam Vinatieri absolutely nailed a 48-yard field goal as time expired to beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, and American sports haven’t been the same since. If Boston’s dominance at the start of this millennium has been a revolution, Vinatieri’s kick was The Shot Heard `Round The World.
2003 Patriots

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 1: MVP Tom Brady of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1, 2004 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

What you remember, presumably, is another game-winning kick by Vinatieri to give the Patriots, their second Super Bowl title, a 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in a wildly entertaining game. What you do not remember, perhaps, is Vinatieri’s two misses prior to his game-winning kick and the end zone interception thrown by Tom Brady, who was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career.

The point? The mistakes weren’t costing Boston championships anymore. Boston now had a football team, at least, that could overcome its blunders, thanks largely to arguably the greatest clutch kicker and, indisputably, the greatest player in the history of the sport.
2004 Red Sox

NEW YORK – OCTOBER 20: The Boston Red Sox celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees 10-3 in game seven of the American League Championship Series on October 20, 2004 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

This year, of course, marks the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Red Sox, a team that will be forever held in iconic status. Toting an 86-year title drought and facing a 3-0 series deficit against the rival New York Yankees, the defiant Red Sox won the American League Championship Series by becoming the first team in Major League Baseball history to overcome seemingly impossible odds.

The Red Sox then swept the St. Louis Cardinals in an anticlimactic World Series, giving Boston its first World Series championship since 1918. The defeats to the Yankees were Boston’s only losses in an 11-3 postseason, during which the Red Sox won their final eight games.
2004 Patriots

JACKSONVILLE, FL – FEBRUARY 06: Rodney Harrison #37 of the New England Patriots celebrates after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

The final score was New England 24, Philadelphia 21, but let’s be honest: the game was never in doubt and it was never really that close. While the Red Sox were going 25-15 over their final 60 regular- and post-season games in 2004, the Patriots were going 17-2 during a 2004 NFL season that similarly gave them claim to the title of Best Team in Franchise History

The 2004 season gave us the Patriots at their very peak – Deion Branch was the Super Bowl MVP – and ended with Rodney Harrison intercepting Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb in the final seconds. Going forward, the winning in Boston would get even more contagious.
2007 Red Sox

BOSTON – OCTOBER 20: J.D. Drew #7 of the Boston Red Sox at bat against the Cleveland Indians during Game Six of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 20, 2007 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Red Sox won the game 12-2 and tie the series 3-3. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

If the 2004 Red Sox championship was about extinguishing the team’s past, the 2007 title was about plotting its future. After going 36-15 in their first 51 games, the wire-to-wire Red Sox fell behind the Cleveland Indians by a 3-1 series count in the American League Championship Series. Like the 2004 team, they never lost again.

A grand slam by J.D. Drew in Game 6 triggered Boston’s comeback against Cleveland and Josh Beckett backboned the Boston pitching staff thought the playoffs as Boston won its final seven postseason games and obliterated the Colorado Rockies in the World Series.
2008 Celtics

BOSTON – JUNE 17: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics celebrates with the NBA Finals MVP trophy after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Six of the 2008 NBA Finals on June 17, 2008 at TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

True fact: From 1956 through 1986, the Celtics never went more than four seasons without a championship. But by the time the 2007-08 season arrived, Boston had gone 21 seasons without a basketball title, a void that, in some ways, that felt proportionate to the 86-year hole that defined the Red Sox. Seemingly overnight, that changed. The Celtics acquired both Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett by trade to join Paul Pierce, then went 66-16 during a regular season that remains among the best in club history.

The Celtics then won 16 more times in the playoffs, claiming their 17th franchise title by dismantling the rival Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6 on Boston’s home floor. Pierce was named NBA Finals MVP and the Celtics finished with 82 regular- and post-season victories, tied with the 1986 edition for most in franchise history.
2011 Bruins

VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 15: Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins celebrates with the Stanley Cup after defeating the Vancouver Canucks in Game Seven of the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Arena on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4 to 0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

In 2011, simply put, the Bruins completed the set. With championships secured in football (three), baseball (two) and basketball (one) during the seven years that marked the 2001-2007 sports seasons, the Bruins, too, had their failures to overcome. Having gone 38 years without a Stanley Cup since their 1972 championship, the Bruins entered the 2010-11 season on the heels on an epic collapse against the Philadelphia Flyers in which they blew a 3-0 series lead.

But backed by the sterling play of goaltender Tim Thomas, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, the Bruins defeated the Montreal Canadiens, Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks to win the Stanley Cup during the spring of 2011. Along the way, the Bruins became the first team in NHL history to win three Game 7s in a single postseason. The Flyers, fittingly, were swept.
2013 Red Sox

BOSTON, MA – NOVEMBER 02: Jonny Gomes #5 and Jarrod Saltalamacchia #39 of the Boston Red Sox lay the World Series trophy and the ‘Boston Strong 617’ jerseys onto the finish line of the Boston Marathon on Boylston Street during the World Series victory parade on November 2, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Were there better championship teams in Boston during the last 20-25 years? Yes. Even before the Boston Marathon bombings in April of 2013, the Red Sox of that season were designed to be a blue-collar, hardworking collection of grinders who could restore some pride after the team collapsed in both 2011 and 2012.

What they became was something much closer to an inspiration. And unlike their 2004 and 2007 predecessors, the 2013 clinched the World Series at Fenway Park by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals, though the indisputable, signature moment of the season came in Game 2 of the AL Championship Series against the Detroit Tigers.

BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 13: David Ortiz #34 of the Boston Red Sox hits a game-tying grand slam in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 13, 2013 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

Already down in the series after losing Game 1, the Red Sox trailed by a 5-1 score in the eighth inning of Game 2 when David Ortiz hit a two-out, game-tying grand slam that altered history. Boston never looked back.
2014 Patriots

GLENDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 01: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots intercepts a pass by Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks intended for Ricardo Lockette #83 late in the fourth quarter during Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

If we were to compile or discuss a list of the most memorable moments during the start to this new millennium in Boston, the decisive play of Super Bowl XLIX might be at the very top of the list.

In an epic battle between the Patriots and Seattle Seahawks, the Patriots held a 28-24 lead in the final seconds when Seattle faced a second-and goal at the New England 1-yard line. Electing to pass rather than hand the ball to bullish running back Marshawn Lynch, Seattle opted for a quick slant from quarterback Russell Wilson to wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, who was … well … you know the rest.

Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler instantly went from anonymous, undrafted free agent to historic Super Bowl champion, and New England/Boston had another notch in its title belt.
2016 Patriots

HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is sacked by Dont’a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots during the fourth Quarter of Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

For certain, Boston has had its share of wire-to-wire champions during the 2000s, ranging from the 20024 Patriots to the 2007 Red Sox to the 2008 Celtics. But the dramatic comebacks or turnarounds always endure. In Boston sports history, the mere utterance of “28-3” is worth 10,000 words – and probably far, far more – if for no other reason than the fact that the ripple effects might have been considerable.

When Tom Brady recently entered the Patriots Hall of Fame, head coach Bill Belichick made sure to mention Dont’a Hightower, who made history-altering plays in both Super Bowls XLIX (stopping Seahawks runner Marshawn Lynch at the 1-yard line) and LI (above). Without those plays … who knows. But as was often the case, the Patriots made them.
2018 Red Sox

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 28: Christian Vazquez #7 jumps into the arms of Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox, as starting pitcher David Price #24 approaches the mound to celebrate their 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five to win the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 28, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Of course, no championship is ever easy – but the 2018 Red Sox sure made it look that way. Boston started off 9-1 and 17-2 en route to a franchise best 108-54 record during the regular season, then shredded the New York Yankees, reigning World Series champion Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers by going 11-3 in the postseason. All in all, the Red Sox went an extraordinary 119-57 under first-year manager Alex Cora, leading one to wonder whether the team was on the verge of another dynastic run.

What has happened since is an entirely different (and separate) story, but we should all agree on this: the 2018 Red Sox were arguably the single most dominant team of any Boston champion in the city’s history.
2018 Patriots

ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 03: Rob Gronkowski #87 of the New England Patriots talks with Tom Brady #12 in the second half during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Was it a special team? No. But if Boston learned how to win again between 2001 and 2018, well, these Patriots were proof.

New England was a relatively pedestrian 9-5 entering Week 16 of the regular season, then wrapped up with a pair of wins against the downtrodden Buffalo Bills and New York Jets. Most everyone assumed the Patriots would be eliminated when they visited Kansas City for the AFC Championship Game, but the Chiefs weren’t quite ready to win yet (thank you, Dee Ford) and the Patriots still weren’t quite ready to lose.

The result? A record sixth Super Bowl title for Tom Brady, who made one final Patriots stand with money target Rob Gronkowski in both the AFC title game and the Super Bowl. Each game featured enormous from one future Hall of Famer to the other. Consider them a parting gift.
2024 Celtics

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 high fives Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

On the one hand, the 2024 season was a cakewalk; on the other, it was merely the conclusion of a journey that lasted 7-8 years beginning with the draft picks that delivered Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum to Boston. On paper, the Celtics 4-1 series victory over the Dallas Mavericks will look easy, but the truth is that it took several years to accomplish.

Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward and Marcus Smart were all teammates of Tatum and Brown before the Celtics finally found the right mix, going 64-18 in the regular season and 16-3 in the playoffs to finish with the sterling record of 80-21. In both the conference and league finals, Jaylen Brown was named Most Valuable Player of the series. But make no mistake, the Celtics won with a division of labor (and skill) that set them apart.
The 2024 title in photos

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jrue Holiday #4 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics react after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 consoles Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the closing seconds of the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after a three point basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jrue Holiday #4 of the Boston Celtics goes up for a basket past Derrick Jones Jr. #55 of the Dallas Mavericks during the first quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Kristaps Porzingis #8 and Sam Hauser #30 celebrate with Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Payton Pritchard #11 of the Boston Celtics and Luka Doncic #77 of the Dallas Mavericks watch Pritchard’s half court buzzer beating shot during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Sam Hauser #30 of the Boston Celtics reacts after a basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics celebrates during the fourth quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts as he walks toward the bench late in the fourth quarter during Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 celebrates with Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics during the second quarter of Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics holds up the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 17: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics holds the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy after Boston’s 106-88 win against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden on June 17, 2024 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)