NBA All Star Game: A battle of two Boston Celtics

In back-to-back seasons, the NBA All-Star Game will feature two Boston Celtics going head to head. Last year, we saw Kemba Walker and Team Giannis take on Jayson Tatum and Team LeBron. This year we get Jaylen Brown, in his first All-Star game appearance, representing Team LeBron taking on Jayson Tatum, in his second All-Star appearance, representing Team Durant.

Jaylen Brown finally reaches his first All-Star game after an All-Star caliber campaign in 2019. The former third overall pick in 2016 broke out in 2019 and continued to improve going into the 2020 season. Brown, one of the more efficient scorers in the NBA, is averaging 24.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game on 49.5 percent from the field. The last time we saw Brown participating in All-Star Weekend was back in 2018 when he led Team USA in scoring and rebounding in their loss to Team World in the Rising Stars Challenge.

Jayson Tatum, coming off a season in which he was selected to the All-NBA Third Team, reached his second All-Star game. Averaging 24.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, Tatum has continued to blossom and show why he is a bonafide star and the future of the league. Due to Kevin Durant’s injury, Tatum has been promoted from a reserve to a starter on Team Durant.

The pair of Celtics will also be making an appearance in the Mountain Dew 3-Point Contest. Competing against players such as Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Zach Lavine, and Donovan Mitchell, it’ll be tough for Brown or Tatum to pull out a win.

Outside of the former champions, Stephen Curry and Devin Booker, Jaylen Brown may be the dark horse favorite to win the competition. This season, when he’s been in a rhythm, he can’t miss.

After putting up performances like his 7-10 against the Memphis Grizzlies back in December, or his 5-8 performances against the Detroit Pistons and Philadelphia 76ers, it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he ends up winning.

The 2021 All-Star coverage kicks off at 5 pm ET on Sunday, March 7, on TNT. The festivities will begin around 6:30 pm ET with the Taco Bell Skills Challenge followed by the Mountain Dew 3-Point Contest. The game tips off at 8 pm ET and the AT&T Slam Dunk Contest will take place at halftime.

Here’s to the “Jays” representing the Boston Celtics in the annual February (but in 2021, March) classic to the best of their abilities!