Jayson Tatum breaks his silence on Jaylen Brown's departure: "We must be grateful for those nine years"

Jayson Tatum faces a different season with Boston Celtics. For the first time since arriving in the NBA, the player will not have Jaylen Brown as a teammate, after the franchise decided to trade the 2024 Finals MVP to Philadelphia 76ers.

The operation ended a nine-season partnership that ultimately took Boston to the NBA championship in 2024. For Tatum, Brown's departure is another consequence of the business side of the competition.

“The business of the NBA comes into play at some point. I've seen it over my almost 10 years in this league,” Tatum explained during the Celtics' Media Day.

The player wanted to focus on everything they achieved together during their time and the growth they experienced as players.

“For me, it’s more about being grateful for what we accomplished and for what he means to this city and this organization. Through all the ups and downs of our careers, we were able to grow and learn, which made us the players we are today. So it’s really about being thankful for those nine years,” he stated.

Tatum takes on the absolute leadership of the Celtics

Brown's exit leaves Tatum as the undisputed leader of a Celtics team undergoing significant change. The player, a six-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA selection, is also entering his first full season after the serious Achilles tendon injury he suffered during the 2025 playoffs.

Boston has acquired Paul George in a trade and has also added center Mitchell Robinson and point guard Mike Conley Jr. Tatum claims to be ready to take on the responsibility that comes with leading the new team.

“Yes, I feel very comfortable. This is my tenth year,” he affirmed.

For Tatum, leadership is not just about taking on a bigger role on the court, but also about understanding the needs of the group.

“Leadership encompasses many different things. Awareness is the most important. Self-awareness, group awareness. And just understanding that we all have our roles and that we are in this together. So it looks different from one person to another,” he explained.

Mazzulla doesn't want to talk about a Celtics “without Jaylen”

Coach Joe Mazzulla was also asked about how the team will change after Brown's departure. The coach avoided framing the new season solely around the absence of the player.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily the phrase ‘without Jaylen’. Every year there are new players, players who continue, the same players returning, and expanding their games and looking different,” Mazzulla noted.

For the coach, the key now is to maximize the performance of the available roster.

“It’s not so much about how it looks without one person or another, but what our roster is and how we can leverage the strengths and talent we have,” he added.

Tatum says his Achilles is ready

Tatum also provided an update on his physical condition after reaching 16 months since his Achilles tendon surgery.

The player missed Game 7 of the first round of last season's playoffs against Philadelphia and has used the summer to strengthen his physique.

“I feel great after having this summer to get stronger, be more explosive, and work on my body as a whole. Obviously, I feel much better than I did around this time last year, and I’m excited and grateful for that,” he explained.

Paul George: “JT is the player”

One of Tatum's new teammates will be Paul George, who knows firsthand the difficulties of returning after a serious injury. The player missed almost the entire 2014-15 season with the Indiana Pacers after suffering an open fracture in his right leg during a USA Basketball training session.

George explained that he is willing to take on any role the Celtics need, but made it clear that Tatum is the reference for the team.

“Obviously, JT is the player. I’m here to support him in every way,” George stated.

The new Boston player also highlighted his ability to adapt to different responsibilities.

“I've always prided myself on being able to do more than one thing, to wear whatever hat is needed while still producing at a high level. That's how I see my presence here,” he explained.

With Brown out of Boston and Tatum officially becoming the main reference, the Celtics are entering a new phase centered around their star and a roster with significant changes.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Jayson Tatum rompe su silencio sobre la salida de Jaylen Brown: “Hay que estar agradecido por esos nueve años”