The 2018-19 NBA season was a tough one for the Boston Celtics. They went into that campaign with championship expectations, but for many reasons, that goal wasn’t achieved.
The C’s playoff run ended in a five-game loss to the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. A few months later, Kyrie Irving and Al Horford left in free agency.
It was also a difficult season for Jaylen Brown. He took a huge step in his development during the 2017-18 season, especially in the playoffs when he played a prominent role with Irving and Gordon Hayward sidelined due to injuries. The Celtics advanced all the way to Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals.
Brown saw his playing time and many of his stats decrease in 2018-19. He also went from making 70 starts in 2017-18 to just 25 in 2018-19.
During that offseason, Brown reached out to NBA legend and friend Tracy McGrady and asked for his advice on the situation. McGrady helped convince Brown to stay in Boston. T-Mac saw the potential Brown and Jayson Tatum had as an elite duo.
McGrady talked about that conversation, and many other topics, on the latest episode of NBC Sports Boston’s Celtics Talk Podcast with Chris Forsberg.
“It’s fascinating,” McGrady said. “He’s very intelligent and a guy you suspect (would) have all the answers because he’s a student of the game and he wants all the information. For him to reach out to me to just come sit down and have a conversation, because it was heavy on his heart and his mind, and what he wanted to do. For me, it was just (being) the voice of reason because I’m not emotionally connected to Boston. I’m not emotionally connected to anything with Boston. My connection is with him and trying to give him the best advice as possible.
“I saw it was an opportunity — you got another player with you in Jayson Tatum, and the dynamic that you guys have created could be very dangerous, and given the organization and their winning ways, and them putting the necessary pieces around you guys — you’ve always been close when you’ve been together. It was just a matter of them figuring it out and working together and how they were going to pull everybody else up to get over that hump and win a championship. It ultimately happened, and he was the MVP of (that series). And now these guys have another opportunity to do that.”
Brown staying in Boston worked out perfectly. He has become an All-NBA player, and this season he is a legitimate MVP candidate. Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their long-awaited Banner 18 with an NBA Finals triumph over the Dallas Mavericks in 2024. Brown also was voted Finals MVP.
With the 2026 playoffs on the horizon, Brown and Tatum have a chance to win their second title together over the next few months. The C’s are the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, and a lot of experts consider Boston to be the favorite to win the Eastern Conference.
Also in this episode:
Who would win in their prime? TMac or JB?
Where Brown fits in the MVP race
The relationship the two have built over the years, including career guidance in 2019
His thoughts on Jayson Tatum’s remarkable return
Who are the biggest threats in the East?
The impact Tatum has made to the roster, rebounding, defensively
A look at who could come out of the play-in round to face the Celtics as the 7th seed