Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum has spoken publicly for the first time about the blockbuster deal that sent his longtime teammate Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Tatum described the change as feeling strange after sharing the court with Brown for every single one of his nine seasons in Boston.
In comments aired on ESPN, Tatum was candid about the personal side of the move.
“If I’m being transparent, it’s weird,” he said. “I’ve been on the Celtics for nine years and he was my teammate every single one of those.”
Brown had been there alongside him through two NBA Finals appearances and the 2024 championship win. Tatum added that while everyone in the league understands the NBA is a business where players, coaches, and front offices come and go, that reality doesn’t make the adjustment any easier.
The six-time All-Star is already looking ahead to a new chapter. He expressed excitement about welcoming fresh faces to the roster, including Paul George and other new additions. At the same time, he acknowledged the emotional weight of parting ways with Brown and how that same mix of feelings is hitting Celtics fans hard.
“There’s still a human element to it where you feel those emotions, and the city feels those emotions too,” Tatum explained. “But there’s also the part where we have to welcome our new teammates with open arms and go after the season. It’s about finding that balance, but yeah, it’s weird.”
The fact that Brown landed with a direct Atlantic Division rival has added another layer for many observers. The 76ers had just eliminated Boston in the first round last season after the Celtics blew a 3-1 lead.
When a Sixers-supporting host brought it up, Tatum responded lightheartedly, noting that Philadelphia had only gotten the better of Boston once in recent memory while reminding everyone of the Celtics’ overall edge in the rivalry.
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens addressed the decision to trade Brown inside the division. He said that if an identical offer had come from a Western Conference team, Boston likely would have preferred it, but that wasn’t how the negotiations played out.
Stevens pointed to the realities of the current collective bargaining agreement and salary cap structure. With such a large portion of the team’s resources and usage tied up in just two star players, the front office saw a more challenging path forward despite strong regular-season results in recent years.
Diversifying the roster, he suggested, could open up better opportunities moving ahead.
The trade marks a clear shift for the franchise as it builds around Tatum with a broader supporting cast for the upcoming season.
