Boston Celtics
“You feel those emotions. The city feels those emotions,” Tatum said.
Jayson Tatum at The ESPYs Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images
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Jayson Tatum breaks silence on Jaylen Brown trade: ‘It’s tough’
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‘Nine amazing years’: Jayson Tatum on his relationship with Jaylen Brown
For nearly a decade, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown worked together towards the goal of bringing a championship to Boston.
Now that Brown has been traded to the 76ers, they’re division rivals.
It’s been two weeks since the trade was announced, but it still feels strange to know that Brown will be an opponent next season, Tatum said during an appearance for ESPN’s preview show of the ESPY Awards.
“If I’m being transparent, it’s weird,” Tatum said. “I’ve been on the Celtics for nine years and he was my teammate for every single one of those.
“You understand throughout the course of a career that the NBA is a business and people change teams and change coaches and front offices,” he added. “But it doesn’t make it any easier. There’s still a human element of it.”
At the time of the trade, Brown said he was both excited and disappointed. He said he needed time to process the shocking move. Boston traded him to Philadelphia for Paul George, two first-round picks, and two second-round picks.
The Celtics blew a 3-1 lead against the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs back in May. They were also Boston’s opening night opponent last season. They’ve met more times than any other pair of teams in NBA playoff history.
“I have no idea what it’s going to feel like,” Brown later said. “It’s probably going to feel a bit weird, you know what I mean? It’s still weird now, like my brain is like Philly? Of all places? Why would you do that?”
The trade sparked an emotional response from Celtics fans. Tributes were made on social media. Arguments were had about the merits and drawbacks of the trade.
One young fan, six-year old Giovanni Jean, went viral when his mother uploaded his tearful reaction to the trade on Instagram. Brown invited Jean to his Bridge Boston program last week and comforted him with a hug.
“You feel those emotions. The city feels those emotions,” Tatum said. “But there’s also a side of — we have to welcome our new teammates with open arms and we have to attack the new season. So there’s like a balance, but it’s weird.”
The Celtics went 3-1 during summer league. Both Brown and Tatum made appearances in Las Vegas. Tatum was there supporting his former Duke teammate Amile Jefferson, who coached the Celtics summer league team. Brown was watching his new team.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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