Boston Celtics
“Nobody has ever played together forever, but it’s not like a thing to be sad or upset about.”
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown played together for nine seasons with the Celtics. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
September 17, 2026 | 2:17 PM
2 minutes to read
Celtics star Jayson Tatum, during a short but wide-ranging interview on “The Dan Patrick Show” Thursday morning, praised former teammate Jaylen Brown but passed on offering specifics about their relationship.
Tatum and Brown were Celtics teammates and costars for nine seasons before the latter was dealt to the rival 76ers on July 1, a deal that blindsided much of the fan base.
Patrick asked Tatum what the biggest misconception is about his relationship with Brown, who thrived as the Celtics’ top option for most of the 2025-26 season while Tatum was recovering from an Achilles tendon tear suffered during the previous season’s playoffs.
“I mean, there are so many different narratives, so many different opinions and speculation,” said Tatum. “For me, I love that guy.
“What we were able to accomplish together in nine years, we went to the conference finals five times, we went to the championship twice, we won a championship, we’ve shared All-Star Games.
“You can’t talk about him without talking about me, and vice versa, right? The success that we’ve had as just two young kids growing up in this league and really just pushing each other.”
Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has explained that the primary reason for breaking up the Tatum/Brown tandem was the extreme roster-building limitations under the collective bargaining agreement when two players have max or super-max contracts.
Tatum acknowledged that financial reality. “Unfortunately, the business of basketball is always going to play a part,” he said.
“Nobody has ever played together forever, but it’s not like a thing to be sad or upset about. It’s something to celebrate, what we were able to do.
“He’s a tremendous person and a player and have a respect [for him] and wish him the best.”
Tatum, during the 11-minute interview on Patrick’s show, which streams on Peacock and airs on Fox Sports Radio, also elaborated on the mental challenges of returning from a torn Achilles late last season.
“I was nervous,” he said regarding his first game back, on March 6. “I was nervous, I was anxious. To be honest, I was nervous every game that I played in this past season … It had been a long time. I was glad that I went out there and proved to myself — even if I was at 80 percent or whatnot — that I could be effective. And I knew that given a long offseason, that I would be back to myself this October.”
Tatum, who appeared on the show to promote the company behind the non-opioid medications he took to help him recover after his Achilles surgery, was asked if he’s more concerned about the defending champion Knicks or the revamped 76ers, who also added LeBron James as a free agent.
“I would say I’m more concerned about the Celtics,” he said. From my experience, and this will be my 10th season, we’ve got to worry about us first.”
Tatum, who came across as laconic and affable in the interview, smiled when Patrick asked him whether he’d prefer to guard Brown or James when the Celtics first face the 76ers.
“I mean, I can’t give away the game plan,” he said.
Chad Finn
Chad Finn is a sports columnist for Boston.com. He has been voted Favorite Sports Writer in Boston in the annual Channel Media Market and Research Poll for the past four years. He also writes a weekly sports media column for the Globe and contributes to Globe Magazine.
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