The Boston Celtics have remained one of the league’s top teams this season, even while navigating the absence of superstar Jayson Tatum. That success has largely been driven by All-Star wing Jaylen Brown, who has carried a major offensive and leadership load and former NBA champion JR Smith, Brown’s performance this year only reinforces something he believes has been true for a long time, the Celtics belong to Brown.
Smith pushed back on the widespread belief that Boston revolves around Tatum, instead arguing that the team’s leadership has always come from Brown.
“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown,” Smith said. “He’s the leader. He’s not? First of all, he guards everybody. It’s always been his team. It’s his team. For the players, I’m pretty sure it’s his team; for everybody else in the media from the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team. That’s what they want it to look like. Internally, it’s Jaylen Brown’s team.”
“It’s always been his team. Jaylen Brown. He’s the leader. He’s not?… For the players, I’m pretty sure it’s his team; for everybody else in the media from the outside, it’s Jayson Tatum’s team.”
— JR Smith 🤔
(via @ToTheBaha)pic.twitter.com/mnELzcwFk9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 4, 2026
Brown’s production this season certainly supports the argument. Through 54 games, he is averaging 29 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5 assists while shooting 48 percent from the field and nearly 35 percent from three-point range.
The impact Brown has on the Celtics goes far beyond scoring, according to Smith.
“Jaylen Brown is the leader of that team. 100 percent on and off the court,” Smith added. “Facts. I guarantee you he commands the film sessions, practices, way more than JT do. He’s the leader of that team.”
The discussion has only intensified with Tatum potentially nearing a return from a ruptured Achilles injury that has sidelined him for most of the season.
NBA insider Chris Mannix echoed a similar sentiment while speaking on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back, suggesting Tatum may need to adjust when he returns to Boston’s lineup.
“I think [Jayson] Tatum knows coming back he’s stepping onto Jaylen Brown’s team. Brown is a top five, top six MVP candidate this year,” Mannix said. “He has put this team on his back offensively. And Tatum’s gonna have to find a way to fit into that.”
This is Jaylen Brown’s team now 👀
With the pending return of Jayson Tatum, @SIChrisMannix doesn’t see there being any chemistry issues.
Tatum knows this is Brown’s team. pic.twitter.com/wgMkvmJHDF
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) March 4, 2026
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