Tatum denies Brown rift ahead of Celtics-Sixers meeting

Jayson Tatum has denied any rift with former Boston Celtics team-mate Jaylen Brown, saying he would welcome a conversation following Brown’s trade to Philadelphia. Tatum addressed the speculation after scoring 36 points in Boston’s first win of the season, against the New York Knicks on Friday night.

The Celtics and Philadelphia Sixers are due to meet on 10 November in Philadelphia. Tatum said the attention on his relationship with Brown has overshadowed what they achieved together in Boston.

Reaction to the trade

The latest discussion followed a documentary clip Tatum posted on Instagram about his reaction to Brown’s trade. In the clip, Tatum said he was shocked Brown had been sent to Philadelphia, asking: “You traded him down the street?” Brown responded with a cap emoji, indicating he did not accept Tatum’s account.

Asked about the exchange after the Knicks game, Tatum urged people to focus instead on their shared success. “You know how many people play in this league and never went to the Finals? We went twice and won a championship, so it should be more about that,” he said.

Tatum rejected the idea that the two had fallen out. “This ain’t no f---in’ Shaq and Kobe, there’s no beef,” he said, adding that drama attracts more attention than praise.

Tatum welcomes a conversation

Tatum said he understood that Brown might need time to process the trade, but insisted he held no ill will towards him. He said he had called and texted Brown on the day of the move, though the two have yet to have a conversation about the situation.

“I think the frustrating part is, since he’s not with the Celtics any more the narrative or the conversations haven’t been enough about what we accomplished, all the games we won, winning a championship, how we’ve grown together,” Tatum said. He added that he had always wanted the best for Brown and would welcome a conversation.

Focus turns to Philadelphia

The Celtics and Sixers are scheduled to meet in Philadelphia on 10 November. Tatum dismissed suggestions that the game should be treated as a personal showdown, saying: “I play basketball. There’s no animosity. There’s no beef.”

He said better communication could settle much of the discussion, while acknowledging that people handle such situations in their own time. For now, Boston moves forward after its first victory of the 2026-27 season, with the Philadelphia meeting still to come.