Tim Legler Gives Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown Special Label Heading Into Playoffs originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
NBA expert analyst Tim Legler ranked the top duos in the league this week with the playoffs looming, and then Boston Celtics‘ superstar pairing of Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum landed at the top of Legler’s distinguished list.
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Falling behind the Jays on Legler’s list were OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams, the Nuggets, Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, the Lakers’ Luka Doncic and LeBron James, and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle.
Brown has delivered a career year in 2025-26, averaging 28.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 5.2 assists in 65 games while earning All-Star starter recognition. He’s been the driving force for Boston’s 50-24 mark (entering Monday) and playoff clinch, much of which was achieved during Tatum’s extended absence. Tatum returned from a right Achilles injury in early March and has played 11 games, posting 20.9 points and 9.1 rebounds per outing while showing steady progress in limited minutes, capped by a season-high 32-point performance on Sunday against the Charlotte Hornets.
Drafted third overall by Boston in 2016 and 2017, the duo has formed the franchise’s core for nearly a decade. They claimed the 2024 NBA championship and collected multiple All-Star nods apiece along with deep postseason runs. Their partnership continues to define sustained contention in the NBA.
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