The jagged relationship between former Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown took another turn Saturday night, when Brown insisted there was “no beef” between them, but added that there “might be a little lamb chops and some gravy.”
“He should stay ready at all times,” Brown said after scoring a season-high 27 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 127-116 win over the Bucks to improve to 3-0.
Brown and Tatum played together in Boston for nine seasons. Both were the No. 3 picks, Brown in 2016 and Tatum a year later. Together, they were one of the most successful pairings of their era, guiding the Celtics to five Eastern Conference finals appearances, two title trips and a championship win over the Dallas Mavericks in 2024.
Despite that success, throughout their tenure, critics questioned
Despite that success, throughout their tenure, critics questioned the duo’s ceiling. “I think we can play together,” Brown said, defending the pairing in 2022. “We have played together well for the majority of our career.”
After their 2024 Finals win, donning Celtics championship T-shirts and hats while smiling, Tatum and Brown hugged at midcourt. Tatum yelled: “They said we couldn’t play together!”
Two years later, Brown, who was sent to the 76ers in a stunning offseason trade, and Tatum, still in Boston, have spent the past two days explaining what appears to be a strained relationship.
Brown created a stir on social media earlier
Brown created a stir on social media earlier this week by posting a blue hat emoji — a symbol for “cap,” which is slang for someone lying — on Instagram in response to Tatum saying in a video on his YouTube channel that he was “just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world” by Brown’s trade.
“There’s no beef. It’s not about that. It should be more praise,” Tatum said on Friday night. “I understand drama gets clicks and views, but I’m not really into that. I’m not blaming everybody for how they feel. Everybody is entitled to their own feelings, and we all go through different things in our lives.”
There have been indications that Brown and Tatum weren’t the best of friends this offseason. Ahead of the Sixers’ preseason matchup against the Celtics in Boston two weeks ago, Brown and Tatum worked out pregame on opposite sides of the court but didn’t appear to acknowledge each other.
On Saturday, Brown repeated that there was no
On Saturday, Brown repeated that there was no beef — only a little lamb chops and gravy — and that Tatum had a great public relations team.
Brown also declined to address why he posted the cap emoji under Tatum’s post, instead saying he and Tatum are focused on what’s ahead. Tatum said he would welcome a conversation with Brown to hash out the potential issue. When asked if he would be open to having that conversation, Brown appeared to be disinterested.
“We both got so much stuff in front of us,” Brown said. “So, at the end of the day … he gotta do what he’s got to do for his team. I gotta do what I do for my team.”
Jayson’s a great guy
”Jayson’s a great guy. Like I said, great family, hell of a basketball player, hell of a PR team. There’s no beef, but it’ll be a little lamb chop.”
Brown, who turned 30 on Saturday, was a five-time All-Star in Boston as well as the 2024 Eastern Conference finals and NBA Finals MVP in helping the Celtics win their 18th championship. He was coming off the best season of his career in 2025-26, stepping up while Tatum was sidelined for all but 16 games as he recovered from an Achilles rupture.
With Tatum out, Brown finished sixth in MVP voting last season and was a second-team All-NBA selection while leading the Celtics to 56 wins. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists.
Still, the Celtics moved forward with Tatum, sending
Still, the Celtics moved forward with Tatum, sending Brown to Philly for Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-round selections (2028, 2030).
“I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time,” Brown said in a statement on social media after the trade.
Brown and Tatum will face off for the first time Nov. 10, when the Sixers play the Celtics in Philadelphia.
