For the first time since the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, Jayson Tatum has spoken publicly about the end of one of the NBA’s longest-running star partnerships.
Brown was dealt to Philadelphia last week in a blockbuster move that brought Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks to Boston. The trade marked the end of a nine-year partnership between Tatum and Brown, who helped lead the Celtics to five Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals appearances and an NBA championship in 2024.
“To be honest, it’s weird,” Tatum said speaking at a children’s book event in Newton, Massachusetts. “You play on a team with a guy for nine years, who I was fortunate enough to go to the Finals with twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today.
“The NBA is an incredible business, it’s an incredible job, but there are some downsides to the business that we’re in. And moments like this, where you just kind of feel like you’re going to be on the team with somebody, because that’s all you know.
“And then it’s just like, one day you find out that they’re no longer on your team anymore. And we’re all humans. We feel all those emotions. Going into the facility, and knowing that you have different teammates, and somebody that you’ve been to war with, essentially, is on a different team.”
Despite the shock of Brown’s departure, Tatum made it clear he remains grateful for everything the pair accomplished together.
“It’s tough,” Tatum said. “But it just makes you appreciate the moments and times that we had. Obviously, it came to an abrupt ending, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t super successful. Some great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization.”
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