Jaylen Brown’s influence, without Jayson Tatum, has redefined the Celtics’ narrative. With Tatum nursing his ACL, Brown has operated as Boston’s primary scorer, closer, and playmaker while keeping the crew in the East’s top tier. That performance has sparked long-running debates about hierarchy that never entirely disappeared after the 2024 title run.
On January 6, 2026, things stirred up after ex-NBA player Austin Rivers weighed in on the relationship between Brown and Tatum. What he said spread fast online, sparking pushback from supporters who felt it downplayed Tatum’s position. From that moment, reactions poured in.
Austin Rivers Draws Heat With LeBron–Wade Comparison
Rivers addressed the Celtics’ situation in a video clip circulated by NBA Courtside and later contextualized by NESN reporter Colin Keane on January 6, 2026. He rejected the idea that Brown and Tatum function as a 1A–1B pairing and instead framed them through a historical comparison.
“This is not a Kyrie and Bron situation. This is more like Bron and D Wade’s first year, where Bron is a better player, but Wade has the soul of the team. Tatum and Brown are going to have that relationship.”
This is disgusting by people who supposedly watch the game. Tatum has been doing this for YEARS.
— James Jackson (@ProSportsGuru93) January 7, 2026
The issue for many fans was not the praise of Brown but the framing of Tatum. Their first season as teammates ended with a defeat in the championship round. From that moment on, James took center stage, while Wade adjusted his playing style. This backdrop sparked debate around the comparison, particularly in light of Tatum’s achievements.
One viral reaction from a fan reads, “This is disgusting by people who supposedly watch the game. Tatum has been doing this for YEARS.”
Another said, “Good analysis, and I feel like it was the last year.”
One more fan said, “Tatum is the better player and has the soul of the team wtf are we talking about here?”
Another fan said, “I can bet you if Brown was out for the whole season, Tatum would not be leading this team the way Brown is doing it! Tatum would average more, but they would not be winning like this.”
Another chimes, “Tatum doesn’t play DEFENSE and that Dribbling the Ball into the Ground ERA is Over.. 😩🤣🤣
Score-wise, Brown is great. In 33 games, he is averaging 30 points, over six rebounds, and nearly five assists per game while shooting above 50 percent from the field. Boston remains well above .500 during that stretch. At the same time, Tatum’s absence explains the shift in usage, not a shift in status.
The larger picture has not changed. Brown has proven he can lead an offense. Tatum has already proven he can anchor a title team. The Celtics have succeeded when both roles coexist, not when one is framed at the expense of the other.
