Jayson Tatum is looking forward to building strong chemistry with Paul George as they help the Boston Celtics get through the preseason slate ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season.

Tatum is gearing up for the 10th season of his NBA career with the Celtics. He shines as one of the best players in the league, leading the franchise to the championship in 2024. However, an Achilles injury in the 2025 playoffs significantly limited his time on the court last season. While he miraculously returned late in the campaign, this offseason allowed him to fully get himself back up to speed.

This year also marks a new era for Boston, having Tatum be the undeniable top star. They traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for George, indicating a big shift in direction.

Tatum and George played together in Boston's clash with Philadelphia on Saturday. The former reflected on the experience after the game, showing his immense respect for the veteran All-Star.

“It was great… Somebody that I’ve obviously admired for a very, very long time… To see some of the special things that he brings to a team, I’m looking forward to it,” Tatum said.

“It was great… Somebody that I’ve obviously admired for a very, very long time… To see some of the special things that he brings to a team, I’m looking forward to it.”

Jayson Tatum speaks on playing with Paul George 🗣️

(via @JustinmTurpin) pic.twitter.com/ayeB8XdjRc

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 11, 2026

How Jayson Tatum, Celtics played against 76ers

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Jayson Tatum and Paul George will look forward to their first year as co-stars. In the meantime, Boston torched Philadelphia in a 144-106 rout on Saturday.

Six players scored in double-digits for Boston in the win, including Tatum and George. Tatum led the team with a stat line of 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. He shot 9-of-19 from the field, including 4-of-10 from beyond the arc. Payton Pritchard shined off the bench with 25 points and seven assists, Hugo Gonzalez came next with 17 points and six rebounds, Derrick White had 15 points and four rebounds, while George had 13 points and five steals. Meanwhile, Sam Hauser scored 11 points off the bench.

The Celtics will look forward to their next preseason contest, facing the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. ET. Their regular season gets underway on the road when they face the Detroit Pistons on Oct. 20 at 3 p.m. ET.