Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum keep distance in first post-trade matchup
The former Boston partners exchanged few words before the Celtics defeated the 76ers, 123-101, in Philadelphia.
By Olivia Miller ·
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum maintained a visible distance during pregame warmups on Tuesday in Philadelphia, marking their first on-court interaction since Boston traded Brown to the 76ers in July. The two All-Stars, who previously shared a court to win an NBA championship, avoided shooting at each other during the pregame routine.
The tension remained visible until tipoff, when Tatum attempted to dap Brown. Brown declined the gesture, giving Tatum a cold shoulder before moving on to hug LeBron James. Neither player spoke to the media ahead of the game, though Brown offered brief comments earlier in the week in Chicago.
"There's nothing to talk about," Brown said. "He's on his side; I'm on his side. Both of us are trying to win. Nothing to talk about. Check the ball up." Brown recently described the relationship as having "no beef," though he admitted there might be "a little lamb chops and some gravy."
The Celtics defeated the 76ers, 123-101, in the contest. Tatum finished with 21 points and six rebounds in 32 minutes. Brown struggled with early foul trouble and scored 13 points. The result extends Boston's strong start, giving them the second-best record in the East at 8-2. Philadelphia, featuring Brown and James, holds a 9-2 record.
The summer trade resulted from Boston's need to manage its salary cap. Brown and Tatum carried contracts that would have consumed about 70% of the franchise's cap space. Boston chose to retain Tatum, who missed most of the previous season recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained in the 2025 playoffs. Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, was sent to Philadelphia for Paul George and draft picks.
Paul George also returned to Philadelphia in the trade. The 36-year-old guard signed a four-year, $212 million contract with the 76ers ahead of the 2024 season. Injuries to his knee and adductor limited his playing time during his two years in Philadelphia. He was suspended for 25 games last season for violating the NBA's anti-drug program before returning for the final 10 games.
Coach Nick Nurse of the 76ers expected the matchup to reveal the history between the players. "I think it'll be interesting," Nurse said. "I would imagine that they've played some one-on-one against each other quite a bit over the last number of years, and I would imagine that will play itself out a little bit."
George, who averaged 20.4 points entering the game, said the return carried no extra weight. "Had I been here eight, nine, 10 years, different story," George said. "I was here two years. Obviously, we didn't have the best of luck or had a great, I think, partnership in terms of my ability to stay healthy and on the floor."
