The wait is over. Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is making his season debut tonight against the Dallas Mavericks, and folks, the reigning champions are about to get a whole lot more dangerous.

According to Chris Haynes, Tatum is officially back after missing the start of the season. And the timing couldn't be more interesting, because there's been some drama brewing in Boston while he's been out.

Jaylen Brown has been absolutely phenomenal leading this team without Tatum. He's been the alpha, the closer, the guy carrying the Celtics on his back. And then Carmelo Anthony - of all people - suggested publicly that Tatum should defer to Brown when he comes back.

That sparked a public spat with Tatum's trainer, and now we've got this fascinating subplot: how do these two superstars coexist? Who's the number one option? Can they share the spotlight?

Here's my take: good teams figure this out, great teams thrive on it. The Celtics won the championship last year with both guys sharing the load. They don't need one alpha - they need two killers who can take over when the moment requires it.

But let's not pretend there isn't an elephant in the room. Brown has proven he can lead this team to wins without Tatum. He's playing at an MVP level. So when Tatum comes back - and make no mistake, he's a top-five player when healthy - how do they divvy up the shots, the touches, the closing possessions?

The Mavericks are going to be a great test. This is a playoff-caliber opponent, and Tatum will be shaking off rust in a competitive environment. How he looks, how he fits back into the rotation, and how he defers (or doesn't) to Brown will tell us a lot.

One thing I know: Boston is better with Tatum on the floor. He's a generational talent, a do-everything forward who can score at all three levels. Pair him with Brown, and the Celtics are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Welcome back, Jayson Tatum. The NBA just got a lot more interesting. That's what sports is all about, folks.