Earlier this week, we wrote that the pressure is ratcheting up on Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum heading into 2026-27.

I wanted to explain a little more on that front, and expand the conversation out a little bit.

So, there are two main points that really apply to that conversation:

Drafted No. 3 overall out of Duke in 2017, Tatum has always been a huge part of what the Celtics do, but he's never really been the sole focal point of what they do.

When he was drafted, he shared the spotlight with Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, Al Horford and Jaylen Brown.

Then, when the franchise changed over, he shared it with Kemba Walker, Malcolm Brogdon and Brown. Then, he shared it with Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday, Horford and Brown, and finally, just Brown.

Tatum has always been a really good player on a really good team, and while the fanbase has had high expectations for him, he's always been able to share the burden of those expectations. 

Now, with Porzingis, Holiday, Horford and Brown all gone, this is solely's Tatum's group, and we'll get a chance to see what it's like with him at the top of the food chain. 

Is he capable of leading a team to an excellent season on his own? Or, is he a guy that needs the insulation of those other players? We will find out.

Last year, with Porzingis and Holiday gone, and Tatum out most of the year while recovering from a torn Achilles, Brown stepped in and got to play the "Alpha Male" role. He excelled in that position, scoring 28.7 ppg and leading the Celtics to a 56-26 record. Boston finished second in the Eastern Conference.

For better or worse, Tatum is going to be measured against Brown's season. We saw Brown in a position of power without a full complement of resources around him. Now we will see Tatum in that same spot. 

If he's unable to measure up to what Brown did? There will absolutely be conversations about if Boston made the right move getting rid of Brown.

1) Those comparisons will be slightly unfair, because the Eastern Conference landscape has changed from the one that Brown played against. The Miami Heat have built a different roster, the Detroit Pistons should be better as Cade Cunningham grows, and the 76ers are obviously deeper. The Knicks are now the NBA champions. It's a different setting that Tatum is going against, and it's probably better.

2) Tatum will be playing his first full season after recovering from his torn Achilles. While we expect him to be healthy, he may not get the chance to play the full 82 games as the Celtics look to keep him healthy and fresh. While it's not a built in excuse for any subpar performances, it's fair to acknowledge the re-acclimation process to a full-time player.