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Imago

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Imago

The Boston Celtics have seen their vision come to light. Since the infamous Paul Pierce – Kevin Garnett trade, the team has steadily become a top-flight contender. While they are yet to win the big one, the team remains consistently excellent. However, the source of their excellence can be traced back directly to that trade. The draft compensation from that trade would eventually turn out to be their two franchise cornerstones – Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Moreover, they were just one bucket shy of eclipsing a historic Michael Jordan milestone.

When discussing the all-time greatest duos, the names of Mike and Scottie Pippen are usually at the top of the list. During their decade-long run, the pair would redefine what success in the NBA meant. But the two Jays are extremely close to breaking one exceptional record of the two. They were a solitary basket away from achieving the feat during the team’s 114-97 victory over the Orlando Magic.

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As Twitter user Dart Adams would point out, one Jayson Tatum basket was all it would take for fans in attendance to witness history. “If Jayson Tatum scored another bucket, he & Jaylen Brown could’ve passed Michael Jordan & Scottie Pippen’s record as teammates who scored 25 or more in the same game…” 

MJ and Pippen scored 25 or more in the same game 73 times in their careers. Tatum and Brown tied that number during the December 12 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since then, the Celtics have played 3 games where one of them has scored over 25 but the other one hasn’t. However, it’s just a matter of time before the Boston duo breaks the long-standing record.

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Even though Michael and Pippen are the better duo from an accolades perspective, the stat does put into perspective the unfairness of the discourse around the current NBA. While the common perception around the Celtics duo is underachievement, the reality might be a touch different.

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But when could the two realistically surpass the record?

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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown on the verge of Michael Jordan – Scottie Pippen record

Despite missing out on the number during the team’s rout of the Magic, it might not be long before the Celtics overtake Jordan and Scottie. The irony isn’t lost, folks.

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USA Today via Reuters

For the year, Brown is averaging a touch over 22 points a night while Tatum adds in 5 extra to that number. So, with an upcoming ga,e against the Golden State Warriors, and their porous defense, on the horizon, it might not be long before the duo breaks the Chicago Bulls icon’s record. Due to an aura similar to Mike according to one NBA Champion, could the stats start to mirror the vibes too?

With history in balance, can the two Jays do it?

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Read More: Going Toe-to-Toe With Kevin Garnett’s Dominant Precedent, Jayson Tatum-Led Celtics On-Track to Recreate History

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Priyanshu

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Priyanshu is an NBA beat Writer at EssentiallySports, with a healthy command over the technical aspects of the sport. Priyanshu has creatively covered the often entertaining interactions between legends Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley along with in-depth analysis of the games. He was at the forefront of the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame ceremony, covering each and every aspect of the historic night in Springfield, Massachusetts. Furthermore, his article on Shaq and the UFC garnered close to a million pageviews. Moving away from the world of sports, Priyanshu is also an avid gamer, who can display other-worldly skills on NBA 2K.

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Pragya Vashisth

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