Jayson Tatum breaks his silence on Jaylen Brown's departure: "It's strange"
The historic Boston Celtics duo has split up after one of the most incredible trades in history
Jayson Tatum spoke for the first time about the trade of Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, a deal that has ended one of the most successful partnerships of the last decade at the Boston Celtics. The forward admitted that he is still processing the news and described it as "strange" to face the upcoming season without his teammate of nine years.
Brown was officially traded this week to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round Draft picks, and two second-round picks, a move that surprised much of the NBA.
During a question and answer session promoting an upcoming book, Tatum fondly recalled all they had built together in Boston.
"You play on a team with someone for nine years. I was fortunate to compete in two NBA Finals with him, win a championship, and push each other to become the players we are today," he stated.
The six-time All-Star acknowledged that the outcome was hard to accept, but he believes it doesn't overshadow all they achieved during their time together.
"It's tough. But it also makes you appreciate the moments and time we shared together. Obviously, it ended abruptly, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a huge success. They were great years, both for the city and the organization," he added.
Tatum's words come a day after the Celtics' president of operations, Brad Stevens, explained that the trade was necessary to provide the franchise with more flexibility for the future, which was challenging with the high contracts of Tatum and Brown.
The Celtics leader also reflected on the more human side of the NBA and how unexpected a change like this can be.
Tatum, about Brown
"The NBA is an incredible business and an incredible job, but it also has tough moments. You think you're going to share a team with someone because it's all you've known, and suddenly, you find out they're no longer there. In the end, we are all people and feel those emotions," he explained.
Despite the impact of Brown's departure, Tatum emphasized that he is already focused on Boston's new project. The forward stated he is ready to welcome the new additions to the roster, led by Paul George and veterans Mike Conley and Mitchell Robinson, aiming to start a new chapter and look ahead with them.
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