The highly anticipated return of Jaylen Brown to face his former Boston Celtics teammates took an awkward turn Tuesday when the forward appeared to ignore an overture from Jayson Tatum. The Boston Celtics secured a 123-101 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers in the matchup.
As the teams met before the opening tip, Tatum approached Brown and tapped him on the chest. Brown did not acknowledge the gesture, leading to a visibly tense moment between the two players who once formed a championship-winning duo.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Brown and Tatum had not spoken since late June, just weeks before Brown's trade to the 76ers. Charania reported on NBA Today that the disconnect stemmed from a dinner conversation where Brown sought clarity on his and Tatum's future as a pair. The conversation was described as a "heart-to-heart" witnessed by others, but Brown reportedly left unsure of his future.
The two stars played together for nine seasons in Boston, culminating in the Celtics' record 18th championship in the 2023-24 season. Brown was named NBA Finals MVP and Eastern Conference Finals MVP during that championship run.
Earlier, Tatum had addressed the trade on his YouTube channel, stating he was surprised by Brown's departure. However, Brown responded cryptically with a cap emoji. Tatum later clarified he had communicated with Brown, asserting there was no animosity between them and that their dynamic was "ain't no f***ing Shaq and Kobe."
Brown himself commented on their relationship, saying, "It's no beef, but it might be little lamb chops and some gravy, you know what I mean? He should stay ready at all times... It's just basketball."
In Tuesday's game, Tatum outplayed Brown, scoring 21 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Brown contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Paul George, who was traded to the Celtics in exchange for Brown, led all scorers with 36 points.
Following the game's conclusion, George was seen making an obscene gesture toward the Philadelphia fans, performing a bowling motion before raising his middle finger.