Brown strikes again against Tatum: "He has an incredible public relations team"

The relationship between Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum is once again at the center of NBA news. The now Philadelphia 76ers player denied that there is a conflict with his former teammate from the Boston Celtics, although he accompanied his message with several ironic statements about Tatum's environment. "There is no beef (conflict), although there is indeed some lamb chop floating around," Brown said after scoring 27 points in Philadelphia's 127-116 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, leaving his team with a record of 3-0.

The statement, seemingly in a lighthearted tone, came after two days during which both players had to respond to questions about their relationship. Brown also emphasized that Tatum has "an excellent public relations team," a comment that adds a new nuance to a story marked by Brown's surprising trade to the Sixers during the offseason.

Brown addresses Tatum again after his best game of the season

The shooting guard delivered his best scoring performance of the season with 27 points against Milwaukee. After the game, questions once again focused on his relationship with Tatum, with whom he shared a locker room for nine seasons in Boston.

Brown insisted that there is no bad relationship between them, although his answers left room for new interpretations. "He should be ready at all times," he commented after the Sixers' victory.

The Philadelphia player also avoided directly explaining why he had posted a blue cap emoji on Instagram, a symbol that in American slang is used to signal a lie. The gesture appeared as a response to a video posted on Tatum's YouTube channel, in which he claimed that Brown's trade caught him as off guard as the rest of the world.

Instead of delving into the meaning of that post, Brown preferred to insist that both need to focus on their respective teams. "We both have a lot ahead of us," he stated. "After all... he has to do what he needs to for his team, and I have to do mine for mine."

Then, he referred to Tatum in positive terms, although he added an observation that did not go unnoticed. "Jayson is a great guy. As I said, he has a wonderful family, he is an incredible basketball player, and he has an excellent public relations team. There is no conflict, although there is indeed some lamb chop out there."

Tatum also denies the conflict but leaves the door open to talk

Brown's remarks came after Tatum addressed the situation on Friday night. The Celtics player also denied that there is a bad relationship between them and urged to focus on the positive aspects of their shared time.

"There is no bad blood. It's not about that. There should be more praise," Tatum stated. The forward acknowledged that he understands the interest that the story generates, although he made it clear that he does not want to fuel a public controversy.

"I understand that drama generates clicks and views, but that's not something I'm interested in. I don't blame anyone for how they feel; everyone has the right to their own feelings, and we all go through different situations in our lives," he explained.

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Tatum also indicated that he would be willing to talk to Brown to clarify any possible misunderstanding. However, when the Sixers player was asked if he would be open to having that conversation, he did not show much interest in delving into the matter.

The difference between the two responses has contributed to keeping the attention on a relationship that, for years, was one of the most important in the NBA. For now, neither has openly acknowledged that there is a confrontation, but their statements and recent gestures have fueled questions about how their bond stands after the separation.

From winning the ring together to parting ways

Brown and Tatum were two of the major references of the Celtics during their nine-season stint together. Both arrived in Boston as the third overall picks of the draft: Brown in 2016 and Tatum a year later.

Together they led the franchise to five Eastern Conference finals and competed in two NBA Finals, culminating their joint journey with the 2024 championship against the Dallas Mavericks. Despite the results, the duo received criticism and doubts for years about whether their two main stars could coexist as leaders of the same project.

Brown publicly defended that partnership in 2022. "I think we can play together," he said then. "We have played well together for most of our careers."

After winning the 2024 title, they both celebrated the success embracing at center court, still wearing their champion shirts and hats. Tatum took that moment to respond to those who had questioned their compatibility: "They said we couldn't play together!"

Two years later, the scenario is completely different. Brown was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers during the offseason, while Tatum remains in Boston. Moreover, early signs of distancing had appeared before the regular season started.

During a preseason game between the Sixers and the Celtics held in Boston two weeks ago, both trained on opposite sides of the court and did not seem to acknowledge each other's presence. The scene drew attention due to the contrast with the relationship they had publicly shown during their years together.

The trade came after Brown's best season

Brown's departure also occurred after a campaign in which he took on even more responsibility in Boston. Tatum was only able to play 16 games in the 2025-26 season while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear, leaving the shooting guard as the main reference for the Celtics for much of the season.

Brown responded with the best numbers of his career: he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He also finished sixth in the MVP voting and was named to the All-NBA second team. Boston closed the regular season with 56 wins.

At 30 years old, celebrated on Saturday, Brown has accumulated five All-Star selections and was one of the stars of the 2024 championship, when he received the MVP awards for the Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals.

Despite that performance, the Celtics decided to continue their project with Tatum and sent Brown to Philadelphia. In return, Boston received Paul George, two first-round draft picks corresponding to 2028 and 2031, and two second-round picks, from 2028 and 2030.

Brown himself acknowledged that the move left him with mixed feelings. "I am still processing how all this happened. I feel excitement and disappointment at the same time," he wrote in a statement posted on his social media after the trade was announced.

The first Celtics-Sixers with Brown will be on November 10

The story will have a new chapter on November 10, when the Philadelphia 76ers visit the Boston Celtics. This will be the first matchup between the two teams since Brown changed franchises and an opportunity to see how the reunion unfolds on the court.

For now, Brown maintains that there is no bad relationship with Tatum, while the Boston player has shown a willingness to talk to clarify any possible misunderstanding. However, the references to "lamb chops" and Tatum's public relations team have added new elements to a story that continues to generate questions.

The two players have insisted that they need to focus on their respective teams. The upcoming duel between the Celtics and the Sixers will allow us to see them face to face again, after a separation that has completely changed the landscape of one of the most successful pairs in recent NBA history.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Brown vuelve a la carga contra Tatum: "Tiene un equipo de relaciones públicas increíble"