despite : Jayson Tatum his leaving boston Celtics today disappointment will be on Antonio pierce….

Aside from going 64-18 in the 2023-24 regular season, they’re on their third straight trip to the Eastern Conference Finals.

The last time the Celtics achieved this feat, they had made it to four straight NBA Finals while led by Larry Bird.

It’s only fitting then that one of the Celtics’ current prizefighters is in the shadow of their face of the franchise.

Just like with Kevin McHale forty years ago, the fanfare reserved for their franchise player eludes Jaylen Brown.

This isn’t to say Brown isn’t well-liked or respected. A bright-minded and thoughtful individual with a flourish for highlight reel dunks, Brown’s developmental arc should draw comparisons to peers like Paul George, Jimmy Butler and Kawhi Leonard.

Players that began their careers as defensive specialists, these stars are now heralded for their go-to scoring ability.

Brown, who averaged 6.6 points per game as a rookie and averaged a career-high 26.6 points per game, has developed as much as any player in recent memory.

At first, criticisms centered on Brown focused on his fit alongside Tatum. These conversations were sensible, as the duo passed the baton more than they played off each other. Frankly, they still play that way.

However, Brown’s tunnel vision and right-hand dominance were also put under the microscope.

Because Tatum had shown a knack for playmaking earlier in his career, there was less pressure on Brown to create for his teammates.

Nonetheless, any offense is better when player’s are willing to pass up tough shots for better ones.

With regard to Brown’s ball-handling, training with players like Hall of Fame wing Tracy McGrady in the offseason has gone a long way.

Still, his left hand is notoriously weaker than his right, and it became a glaring issue in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.