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When the Philadelphia 76ers welcome the Boston Celtics to Xfinity Mobile Arena on Tuesday night, Jaylen Brown doesn't anticipate any conversation with Jayson Tatum. Brown is eager to move past his time in Boston and any friction with his former teammate. "It's nothing to talk about," Brown said Sunday, according to ESPN's Kris Rhim. "I mean, he's on his side, I'm on my side. Just playing basketball. Both of us are trying to win, so nothing to talk about. Just check the ball up."
Brown was sent to the 76ers in a blockbuster summer trade that brought Paul George to the Celtics. His representatives maintained that he never requested a trade, despite widespread speculation. Brown spent ten years in Boston, nine of them alongside Tatum, including a championship-winning season. While the two seemed to coexist well on the court, their relationship appears to have dissolved since the trade.
The tension resurfaced last month when Brown posted a blue hat emoji on Instagram in response to a video Tatum shared. In that video, Tatum claimed he was also caught off guard by Brown's trade to Philadelphia. Brown's emoji suggested he believed Tatum was lying. Tatum later downplayed the beef, insisting it wasn't "no f*ing Shaq and Kobe situation." Brown followed suit a day later. "We've accomplished some great things. He's a hell of a basketball player," Brown said. "He's got a great PR team. There's no beef, but it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy. He should stay ready at all times."
Key Analysis
Regardless of their personal dynamic, both players are thriving in new roles. Tatum has averaged 27.9 points and eight assists per game while leading Boston to an 8-2 record. Brown has put up 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game for Philadelphia, which sits at 9-2 after a 127-121 win over the Chicago Bulls on Sunday in which Brown scored 29 points and grabbed seven rebounds. While the first matchup between the two teams this season could be emotional, Brown isn't looking that far ahead. "We'll see how I feel when we get out there, but as of now, I got no emotion towards anything," Brown said Sunday. "So I'm just ready to go."
Originally reported by yahoo.