Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown deserve their moment with a closeout at home in Game 5

Seven years ago, at the age of 20, Jaylen Brown was overseas when he received a call from then General Manager and President of Basketball Operations, Danny Ainge, seeking Brown’s input on a potential draft selection for the Celtics, who held the third pick.

“I remember Danny calling me. I think I was in Málaga, Spain, or Cordoba, one of the two, and Danny called me, and it was like 4:00 a.m. Don’t ask me why I was up. But Danny calls me, and he asked me, ‘How do you feel about Jayson Tatum?” Brown recalled.

“I remember I played with him at camps, Top 100 camp. He was my roommate at the KD Elite Camp. We played on the same team in so many different -- the Under Armour All-American game, and we were roommates again. So it was like, I had a lot of experience with him. I played with him on the same team and there was a lot of respect. I said, ‘I think it’s a great choice.’ Fast forward from there. We’ve been winning ever since.”

Brown’s advice paid off. Since then, the duo has led the Celtics to the Eastern Finals five times in seven years, and now they stand on the verge of cementing their legacy in Celtics history by bringing home the coveted Banner 18.

“It’s definitely a blessing to be here, to represent the Celtics, my family, the organization, the community, our greater community. It’s an honor that I don’t take lightly,” Brown said on his relationship with the city.

“Just to come out every night and play for something, for what I represent, I think that matters. My relationship with Boston has grown. I’ve been here for almost nine years now. Since I was 18 [or] 19 years old. I’ve grown up. I’ve become a man here. Boston is special.”

There’s a unique bond between homegrown talent and the city they represent. Over the last seven seasons, the Jays have matured in front of Celtics fans’ eyes. Now, they stand on the cusp of fulfilling their destiny: bringing an NBA championship to Boston.

“When you come into the NBA, you just think every organization, every franchise is the same. That couldn’t be any further from the truth,” Tatum said. “I’ve been fortunate to be a part of something that is special, that has had some of the greatest players to ever play wear this uniform. You realize early on that it’s an honor and it raises your level of commitment, I felt like, to this city and to this franchise.”

Players are not oblivious to it. There’s a unique aura to playing in Boston. The city’s four major sports franchises boast a collective 38 championships, 12 of which have been clinched since 2000. Leading the charge with 17 titles, the Celtics share the NBA record for most championships alongside the Los Angeles Lakers.

“I don’t look at it as pressure,” Tatum said. “I do notice, especially this time of the season -- playoff time and obviously being in the Finals for the second time -- When you drive around and go to the gas station, or -- I wanted to go get some ice cream yesterday, it’s Celtics gear everywhere. Everybody is super excited about this team, what we have accomplished, and what we have the chance to accomplish. You really just feel the love and support from everybody in the city of Boston and how badly they want us to win. How much they have been cheering for us. So, I don’t look at it as pressure. Just unconditional support, and that we have an amazing fan base here.”

The Jays have embraced the weight that comes with playing for one of the most prestigious franchises in sports. They have admirably handled the scrutiny and criticism, focused on one thing: winning.

“The pressure that JB and JT have to take on is something different,” Jrue Holiday said. “I’ve told them this before, but it’s really impressive how they handle themselves, how they stay professional, how they still come out every game and do what they do.  I think it’s extremely impressive how they do that.”

Boston has seen these two teenagers grow into young men, and now, with a win in Game 5 on Monday night, they can witness them become champions—a moment they deserve to share together and with the hundreds of thousands of fans who will flood the streets of Boston to celebrate with them.

“You spend so much time, and you go through so many things, the ups, the downs, the highs and the lows, and it creates that,” Brown said on his relationship with Tatum. “Those memories are memories that we’re going to forever have together. So those are things that you’re always going to carry with you. To be able to potentially seal our first championship, I think that’s awesome.”

Monday night presents a golden opportunity for the Jays to solidify their place among the Celtics’ greats, a moment they can cherish alongside the fans at home who have supported them through every step of their journey. If Boston’s star duo raises the Larry O’Brien Trophy on Monday night, that moment will have been well worth the wait.