Tatum, Brown Appear to Still Be at Odds in Preseason Game
Former Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown notably ignored each other during warmups in their first matchup since Brown's offseason trade to the 76ers.
NBA stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown largely ignored each other throughout warmups on Saturday, ahead of the Boston Celtics' preseason game against Brown's new team, the Philadelphia 76ers. The preseason matchup marked the first time the former Celtics teammates faced each other since Brown was traded in the offseason.
During the warmups, both players appeared to deliberately avoid acknowledgment of the other, despite being in close proximity on the court. Brown, who was a pivotal player for the Celtics last season, contributing 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game while Tatum recovered from an Achilles injury, spent much of the game in the locker room, according to NBC Sports Boston sideline reporter Abby Chin. The Celtics went on to win the game 144-106.
Tatum finished the game with 23 points, five rebounds, and four assists against a shorthanded 76ers squad that rested Joel Embiid and LeBron James. Brown's official return to the TD Garden with the 76ers is scheduled for January 21. The Celtics and 76ers are set to meet four times this season, with their first regular-season encounter on November 10th in Philadelphia.