Jayson Tatum Reflects on 'Tough' Jaylen Brown Trade to 76ers After 9 Years Together on Celtics

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum commented Tuesday for the first time since the shocking trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers last week.

As part of a Q&A session for his new children's book (h/t ESPN), Tatum was asked about Brown's sudden departure.

"You play on a team with a guy for nine years," Tatum said. "I was fortunate enough to go to the [NBA] Finals with him twice, and win a championship, and push each other to be the players that we are today.

"... It's tough. But it just makes you appreciate the moments and time that we had. 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."

Brown's name was in trade rumors regarding a potential deal for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but even after the Milwaukee Bucks traded Giannis to the Miami Heat, Brown remained part of trade talks.

Boston ultimately decided to send him to the Eastern Conference and Atlantic Division rival 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks.

It seemed like something of a modest return for a player of Brown's caliber, as he is a five-time All-Star and one-time NBA Finals MVP who is coming off a 2025-26 season that saw him average a career-high 28.7 points per game and finish sixth in NBA MVP voting.

Brown arrived in Boston as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, and Tatum joined him one year later as the No. 3 overall selection in the 2017 draft.

Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to the playoffs in each of their nine seasons together. They also reached the NBA Finals twice and won it all in 2024.

"The NBA is an incredible business; it's an incredible job, but there are some downsides to the business and moments like this, where you just kind of feel like you're going to be on the team with somebody, because that's all you know," Tatum said. "And then it's just like, one day you find out that they're no longer on your team anymore. And, we're all humans. We feel all those emotions."

While Tatum and Brown were often viewed as 1A and 1B in terms of who the Celtics' best player and leader truly was, the departure of Brown means that distinction now belongs solely to Tatum.

There is still some quality talent around, including veterans with a long history of success such as George and Derrick White, but it is fair to wonder if the Celtics have a player capable of stepping up and dominating offensively when Tatum has an off night or is out injured.

Brown was always that guy throughout Tatum's first nine NBA seasons, but now he is a part of a stacked Sixers team with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid and V.J. Edgecombe, which could be the biggest threat to the New York Knicks' status as the reigning Eastern Conference and NBA champions.