Philadelphia 76ers forward Jaylen Brown stated he was not focused on former teammate Jayson Tatum during a pregame interaction before Tuesday’s 123-101 loss to the Boston Celtics. Brown later clarified that he was not paying attention to Tatum’s attempt to greet him.
Brown’s comments came after the trade that sent him to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks, and cash considerations on July 6. The trade ended their nine-season tenure together with the Celtics, during which they reached five Eastern Conference championship series and two NBA Finals.
Tatum and Brown exchange minimal acknowledgment
Before the game at Philadelphia’s Xfinity Mobile Arena, Tatum approached Brown and briefly tapped his arm and chest. Brown did not acknowledge the gesture, maintaining his focus on the court. Neither player addressed the interaction in detail afterward.
Brown told reporters, “I’m just focused on coming out and doing what’s best for my team. Everything else was just — to be honest, I wasn’t paying attention.” He added, “Credit to Jayson, he played well tonight. Credit to the Celtics, they executed, they shot the hell out of the ball, and they were the better team tonight.”
Tatum similarly dismissed the moment’s significance. “No headlines about anything like that,” he said. “I was just getting ready for the game, ready for jump ball, go out there and compete, have some fun and try to get a win.”
Game performance overshadows pregame moment
Boston’s victory marked their ninth win of the season, improving them to 9-2 and first place in the Eastern Conference. Philadelphia fell to 9-3. Paul George, acquired by Boston in the trade, led all scorers with 36 points on 14-of-22 shooting, including six three-pointers.
Brown finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting and a game-worst minus-22 in the scoring margin during his minutes, attributing his performance to foul trouble rather than personal tension. Tatum scored 21 points on 8-of-17 shooting.
Trade reshapes Celtics-Sixers rivalry
The July 6 trade altered the competitive landscape between the two teams. Brown, a two-time NBA Finals participant with Boston, had previously stated there was “nothing to talk about” with Tatum now that they compete for different franchises.
“Both of us are trying to win, so nothing to talk about,” Brown said Sunday. “Just check the ball up.” Tatum echoed this sentiment, emphasizing preparation over personal dynamics.
The Celtics and 76ers remain among the Eastern Conference’s top contenders, with their matchup highlighting the trade’s immediate impact on team chemistry and on-court results.