It’s a new era in Boston, and many Celtics fans are coming to grips with their new reality. Sans Jaylen Brown, who was recently traded to the 76ers, the Cs have re-committed to Jayson Tatum as the singular face and leader of their franchise.
For Brown, there’s an opportunity for greatness in Philadelphia, but that doesn’t make the transition any easier. In fact, during his introductory press conference on Thursday, he reflected on his Celtics past while paying respect to a 10-year partnership.
“We won a championship together, so anybody that you win a championship with, that’s what you think a lifelong brotherhood would entail,” said Brown. “Obviously, it’s ups and downs in any type of relationship, for sure. On my end, it’s nothing but respect, besides when he plays the Sixers. I hope he does well. But other than that, everything for me is based in respect.”
Clearly, Brown and Tatum still have a lot of respect for each other, and it likely stems from over a decade of experience playing side by side. They won together, fought together, and became stars together on one of the NBA’s most prestigious organizations. Still, Brown is the first to admit that things were far from perfect in Boston. Coming off a blown 3-1 lead in the playoffs, they clearly had a lot of issues to iron out, and their split was seen as inevitable by some.
The first signs began shortly after their first-round loss, when Brown called the failed season his favorite one yet. Today, the biggest sign of their fractured relationship is that they still have not yet spoken, many weeks after the blockbuster trade. It’s unusual for guys who played together for so long, and it certainly supports the idea that there was more going on behind the scenes.
“Not really,” Brown answered when asked if he’s spoken to Tatum since the trade.
With averages of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting from the field, Jaylen Brown’s value should be sky-high on paper, but the Celtics settled for a relatively meager package of Paul George and multiple picks. Besides his recent controversial comments, many suspect Brown’s exile was due to his waning relationship with Tatum, who was notably quiet throughout the process (save for one subtle shot at his former teammate). Ultimately, with tensions rising, the Celtics may have felt forced to break up their iconic star duo, and genuinely believed that Paul George was a better fit for their situation.
Whatever the case, it’s all respect between Tatum and Brown, at least for now. And while they haven’t started treating each other as enemies, that doesn’t mean everything is fine. When the 76ers and Celtics face off next season, the stage will be set for an intense showdown that could mark the start of a brand new rivalry. Until then, all Jaylen Brown can do is focus on building relationships with his new teammates, which now includes LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid (among others).
