Jayson Tatum has reflected on the end of his long partnership with Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics traded their 2024 NBA Finals MVP to the Philadelphia 76ers. Brown had been Tatums team-mate throughout the forwards development from a promising rookie into one of the NBAs leading stars, with the pair playing together for nine seasons and combining to lead Boston to the 2024 championship.The Celtics ultimately chose to move Brown in a deal widely viewed as a cost-cutting measure, bringing an end to one of the longest-running partnerships in the Eastern Conference.Tatum said the reality of the NBA eventually means difficult decisions have to be made, but wanted to focus on what he and Brown achieved together.The business of the NBA comes and plays a part at some point. And Ive seen it in my almost 10 years in this league, Tatum said during Celtics media day on Monday. For me its more so being grateful for what we accomplished and what he means for this city and to this organization. Just the ups and downs in our career that we were able to grow and learn from and made us the players that we are today. So really just being thankful for those nine years.Questions over the pairs relationship away from the court had followed them throughout their time together, particularly as both players eventually signed contracts worth more than $300 million.Tatum ready to lead new-look CelticsThe six-time All-Star enters the season as Bostons biggest player, with the Celtics also having to adjust following major changes to their roster.Paul George was acquired in the trade involving Brown, while the Celtics also added Mitchell Robinson and Mike Conley Jr.Tatum said he is comfortable taking greater responsibility as he prepares to return for his first full season since suffering a torn Achilles during the 2025 NBA playoffs.Yeah, very comfortable. This is Year 10, Tatum said. Leadership is about a lot of different things. Awareness is the biggest one. Self-awareness, awareness of the group. And just understanding we all have roles and were just kind of simply in this together. So it looks different from person to person.Head coach Joe Mazzulla does not believe Boston needs to define the new team simply by what has been lost.I dont think that its necessarily the phrase without Jaylen,' Mazzulla said. Every year youre getting new players, old players, the same players that you have coming back expand their games and they look differently. So its not as much what it looks like without one person or the other as much as its whats our roster, how can we take advantage of the strengths and talent that we have. Topics Boston Celtics Jaylen Brown Jayson Tatum NBA Philadelphia 76ers Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read LeBron James reveals Knicks were preferred destination before NBA title Mitch Fretton 28th September, 2026 Kawhi Leonard reacts to NBA punishment: Lapses in judgement Ben Miller 3rd September, 2026 Harden agrees $97m deal to stay with Cavaliers Nicholas McGee 20th August, 2026 NBA: Knicks take on LeBron James 76ers on opening night Mitch Fretton 11th August, 2026 NBA: Durant claims 76ers a championship-winning team after signing LeBron James Mitch Fretton 2nd August, 2026 NBA: Philadelphia 76ers officially welcome LeBron James to East Coast Mitch Fretton 27th July, 2026
