For the first time in almost a decade, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown will take the court for different NBA teams.
Earlier this offseason, the Boston Celtics dealt Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in a league-altering blockbuster trade — ending his 10 year run with the organization.
Brown was selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The following year, the Celtics selected Tatum with another No. 3 overall pick.
The superstar duo accomplished a lot in Boston, including the franchise’s 18th NBA title in 2024.
Before the 2026 ESPY Awards on Wednesday night, Tatum opened up about how “weird” it will be for Brown to be wearing a different uniform in 2026-27.
“If I’m being transparent, it’s weird. I’ve been on the Celtics for nine years and he was my teammate every single one of those,” Tatum said. “You understand through the course of a career that the NBA is a business — people change teams. But it doesn’t make it any easier.
“There’s still a human element of it that you feel those emotions — the city feels those emotions. But there’s also a side of like we have to welcome our new teammates and with open arms.”
The Celtics acquired NBA veteran Paul George in the Brown trade, as well as two first-round picks and two second-round picks.