How Jayson Tatum hit the Jaylen Brown jackpot when he was drafted to Celtics

BOSTON — When Jayson Tatum was drafted to the Boston Celtics in 2017, he hit the lottery. Perhaps he couldn't predict it at the time, but joining a historic franchise fueled by championship aspirations would work wonders for his NBA career. It's not just about the winning culture in Boston, though. The personnel the Celtics had then, especially now four-time All-Star Jaylen Brown, helped Tatum flourish. Alongside Brown, the 2024 NBA champion and six-time All-Star has thrived and not even an Achilles rupture last May could stop him. On Friday morning ahead of Celtics practice, Tatum was asked to reflect on his partnership with Brown and that reminded him of how lucky he was to arrive in Beantown almost a decade ago.

Jayson Tatum on his lengthy on-court partnership with Jaylen Brown and what they’ve accomplished:

“It’s great…Nobody can do it by themselves. It takes a village.

Also talked about being drafted by Boston:

“So I’m thankful, tenfold.” pic.twitter.com/RXA5oHxyUL

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 17, 2026 "I've been fortunate enough to be with this organization my entire career so far," Tatum said at the Auerbach Center. "I've had some incredible teammates and been paired with (Brown) for this entire journey. So nobody is successful by themselves, it takes a group. It takes a village." While the makeup of the Celtics has changed a lot since Tatum's rookie year, Brown has remained. That terrific tandem of Tatum and Brown has served as Boston's winning formula for several years, and that is still true ahead of the Green Team's first-round playoff series with the Philadelphia 76ers. "A lot of it is where you were drafted, the teammates that you were going to war with," Tatum said of the Celtics' sustained success. "So I'm thankful—tenfold—for that." Jaylen Brown on going to the playoffs year after year alongside Jayson Tatum:

“I think it’s great…I’m grateful to be where I am. I’m grateful to be here.”

He ended his answer with this:

“I’m still improving. I’m still getting better…I feel like I’m entering my prime.” pic.twitter.com/LlUx5dVb1A

— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) April 15, 2026 Game 1 on Sunday afternoon is far from the first time Tatum and Brown have seen the Sixers in the postseason. They've played them in 2018, 2020, and 2023—and emerged victorious every time. For another series win, the Celtics will rely on their dynamic duo once again. Although Tatum and Brown have implied that they hit the jackpot in coming to Boston, in reality, the Celtics were the true winners and possibly used some patented luck of the Irish to end up with the two superstars as their franchise cornerstones. Listen to "Havlicek Stole the Pod" on: Blue Wire:  iTunes:  YouTube:  *This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: *