The Boston Celtics made a move this offseason that caught pretty much everyone off guard. They shipped Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for a package built around Paul George.
There had been chatter about Brown possibly going to the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetokounmpo. But when the Greek Freak ended up in Miami, it looked like Brown was staying put in Boston. Then the Celtics not only traded him, they sent him to a division rival. That part especially stung.
Jayson Tatum was among the people surprised by the news. He talked about it Tuesday night, and his reaction felt more personal than political.
“To be honest, weird. It’s weird,” Tatum said. “You play on a team with a guy for nine years. I was fortunate enough to go to the finals with him twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today.”
The Hardest Part of Saying Goodbye
Tatum didn’t sugarcoat what it’s like watching someone you’ve been through wars with walk out the door. He also acknowledged the awkward reality of having to turn the page fast.
“It’s tough. But it just makes you appreciate the moments and time that we had,” he added. “Obviously, it came to an abrupt ending, but it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t super successful. Great years, obviously, that he gave to the city and to the organization. … The tough part is you miss teammates, but then you have new teammates, and you want to welcome those guys and accept them and move forward with them. So there is a balance there.”
That balance is going to be tested immediately. Brown carried the Celtics to the No. 2 seed in the East during the 2025-26 season while Tatum was recovering from a torn Achilles. Now the roles are flipped. Tatum will have to shoulder the offensive load in 2026-27 if Boston wants to stay in title contention in a conference that just got stronger, with Brown now playing for one of their biggest rivals.
It’s a weird spot for both guys. Two players who pushed each other for nearly a decade are now on opposite sides of a growing rivalry. Tatum knows the clock doesn’t stop for feelings, though. New teammates are already in the locker room. The season is coming. He’s got to figure out how to miss his guy and move forward at the same time.
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