The culminating moment of the celebration came on June 18, when Jayson Tatum, after a standout performance with 31 points, led his team in the decisive game of the NBA Finals. This victory not only validated his abilities as a leader, but also confirmed the team’s faith in Tatum and his teammate Jaylen Brown, who had faced criticism during their careers.
The joy was short-lived, however. Just 12 days later, on June 30, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens was faced with the difficult decision of committing nearly $440 million to extend the contracts of Tatum and Derrick White, after having already invested in other players such as Brown. Stevens acknowledged that, although they have a great team, decisions regarding the salary cap are becoming more and more complicated. “We’re going to face penalties down the road that we’ll have to consider,” he said.
As the offseason progressed, new issues arose; Jaylen Brown was not chosen for the U.S. Olympic team, sparking his discontent on social media, while Tatum dealt with a confusing management of his playing time on the national team. The situation was complicated by the news of an injury to center Kristaps Porzingis, who was at the center of his strategy. The pressure was mounting in a context where the opportunity to defend the title already felt threatened.
Despite the challenges, the Celtics are preparing to begin the new season. With the leadership of Tatum and Brown, and the high expectations of a team expected to compete for a championship again, the franchise’s recent history has highlighted that in basketball, as in life, glory can be transitory and adversity, constant. The experience of the quick fall of their honeymoon should serve as motivation for the team as they move toward a new season.
