The Philadelphia 76ers acquiring Jaylen Brown from the Celtics in a blockbuster trade this offseason was one of, if not the biggest twist of the summer. Well, most people believe that this was an unexpected yet logical consequence of his perceived beef with his former ball club, especially with their franchise player, Jayson Tatum. However, Brown's recent remarks seem to run afoul of that largely contrived narrative.
When asked in a children's basketball camp about who has been his funniest teammate so far, Brown responded by pointing out Tatum. People might see this as nothing more than a cursory remark, but if anything, this strongly waters down the notion that both stars had little to no relationship outside the court –– a major indicator of that "beef" narrative shoved down the fans' throats.
Jaylen Brown's comment downplays feud narrative with Jayson Tatum
The notion that Brown and Tatum did not see eye to eye is not really a novelty that just sprouted this year. If anything, fans and pundits alike were somehow engrossed in making both All-Stars clash with each other despite the lack of any evidence that points to them actually having some sort of a rift.
However, things came to a head around the time Brown's relationship with the Celtics brass became fractured. There were reports about him getting frustrated over Boston's more favorable treatment of Tatum, although nothing credible really corroborated it.
Having been teammates for nearly a decade, it is simply too hard to believe that Brown and Tatum did not at least get along outside the court. The Celtics had installed them as their one-two punch for a long time, a dynamic that culminated in a championship just a couple of years ago.
Now, the rivalry between the 76ers and the Celtics will only intensify in view of the Brown element and his rift with Boston's brain trust. However, it is unlikely that the Celtics' part in this rivalry will be primarily anchored in Tatum harboring ill feelings toward his former co-star and vice-versa.
Philadelphia has its sights set on winning the championship next season, especially with a Finals MVP in Jaylen Brown bolstering their case. Boston will try to stand in their way as usual, but with the 76ers having a more formidable lineup, the Celtics will probably do the catching up for the most part. Jayson Tatum will be leading their attack, but familiarity will not save him from his former teammate. That being said, if there is one thing certain, it is that there will be no hard feelings involved –– business is business, after all.
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