A lot will be made out of the former NBA superstar duo that was Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Many speculate that there has been tension brewing between the two.
After Brown addressed his former teammate during his introductory presser with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday, you'll have a hard time finding anybody who believes there won't be some added motivation the first time these two play each other next season.
The rivalry gets another layer
"We won a championship together. So, anybody that you win a championship with, you would think like that's what a brotherhood or lifelong legacy would entail. Obviously, there are ups and downs in any type of relationship for sure. But on my end, it's nothing but respect, you know? Besides when he plays the Sixers, you know, I hope he does well. Other than that, everything for me is just based in respect."
As far as their post-trade communication goes, Jaylen Brown noted that they haven't had any contact since it went down.
If you're hearing this from a Celtics' perspective, it's disappointing. The two won a title together and seemed close, for the most part. Unfortunately, after a first-round flop in the playoffs, Celtics fans watched their team shockingly send an MVP candidate from a season ago to a bitter rival, in exchange for an aging star who hasn't had an All-Star bid in years.
If you're siding with the Sixers for next season, Brown's statement is exactly what you want to hear. Sure, he wishes Tatum and the Celtics well, but it certainly feels like there is going to be an added layer to the rivalry heading into the 2026-2027 NBA season.
Not just because the Celtics traded Brown to a rival without a heads-up, but because Brown and Tatum haven't really connected since the deal went down. That certainly fuels the narratives about the two stars not being as close as they once seemed.
The Sixers are preparing for a major turnaround
After getting swept in round two against the New York Knicks, the Sixers are preparing for Brown to help lead a major turnaround.
With the Celtics last season, Brown appeared in 71 games. He produced averages of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. The veteran forward shot 47.7% from the field and knocked down 34.7% of his shots from beyond the arc.
After putting together an MVP-caliber performance, Brown joins a star-studded starting five, which will include Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and LeBron James.
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