Celtics Camp Update: Tatum Leads New Era With George
AP reports Paul George will support Jayson Tatum after Boston traded Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia.
Basketball Daily
Jayson Tatum says he is ready to lead the Boston Celtics into their first season of his career without Jaylen Brown, with Paul George embracing a supporting role in the reshaped team. At media day on September 28, the central message was clear: Boston has changed its personnel, but its established star remains the reference point.
The Associated Press reported that George described his job as helping Tatum across the game. “Obviously, JT is the guy,” George said, giving the new partnership an early statement of direction before the competitive work of camp.
A championship partnership gives way to a new group
Brown’s offseason move to Philadelphia ended nine seasons alongside Tatum, including Boston’s 2024 championship run. Brown was the Finals MVP of that team, making his departure a change to both the Celtics’ basketball structure and their recent identity.
Independent reporting from GBH captured Tatum’s appreciation for their shared development and coach Joe Mazzulla’s acknowledgment of Brown’s contributions on and off the floor. Both also turned their attention toward the players now in Boston, rather than treating the coming season as an extended farewell.
That group combines returning guard Derrick White with newcomers Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr., alongside George. The practical challenge is to build familiarity across several combinations: who initiates possessions, who supplies the next decision and which players complement one another when the first option is unavailable.
Tatum brings a healthier starting point
Tatum is entering his 10th NBA season after an offseason devoted to improving his body following Achilles surgery in 2025. In his firsthand media-day coverage, John Karalis of Celtics on SI reported Tatum’s account of becoming stronger and more explosive, and feeling substantially better than a year earlier.
That preparation matters for a team asking its leading player to help establish new partnerships. Practice repetitions offer an opportunity to develop timing with incoming teammates while the coaching staff evaluates how responsibilities should be distributed.
George also arrives with an unusual connection to his new teammate: Tatum told reporters he had studied George’s game during high school, college and his early professional career. Their mutual familiarity as opponents and admirers provides a starting point, although sharing a rotation will demand a different kind of understanding.
Depth must turn into dependable roles
President of basketball operations Brad Stevens emphasized versatility and depth in his media-day remarks, while acknowledging that several players still have something to prove. His assessment places responsibility beyond the two headline forwards: Boston needs useful combinations throughout the roster.
White described revisiting elements of his shooting approach that had previously worked for him. Hugo Gonzalez, meanwhile, discussed preparing for substantial minutes even when that workload is not guaranteed, illustrating the readiness Boston wants from players outside its most prominent names.
The next test is how those individual plans fit together in practice and preseason competition. Watch which combinations Mazzulla uses around Tatum, how George’s supporting role takes shape and whether the wider roster can translate September’s confidence into dependable contributions.