Jayson Tatum Reveals If He Was 'Happy' Knicks' Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby Won NBA Title in New Video

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum says he had mixed feelings about watching the rival New York Knicks win the 2026 NBA championship.

When asked on a Wednesday appearance on the TODAY Show if he had been rooting for the Knicks in the playoffs, Tatum said, "No. I was not."

"I will say that I've known Jalen Brunson since I was like 16. I knew O.G. since I was 16. A lot of the guys in the NBA, we go way back," Tatum told TODAY's Jenna Bush Hager and Sheinelle Jones around the 3:30 mark of the video below.

"I wasn't rooting for them, but when they won, I was happy for them as individuals."

Tatum is hoping to lead the Celtics back into the mix of title contending teams next season after missing most of the 2025-26 campaign amid his recovery from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

He will be looking to do so without 2024 Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, who was traded last week to the Philadelphia 76ers.

ESPN's Shams Charania reported after the trade the Celtics had "made the determination that moving forward they can no longer win a championship with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum."

The Celtics are now hoping receiving Paul George in the Brown trade and signing former Knicks center Mitchell Robinson will create a rotation that can compete with New York to win the East next season.