The Philadelphia 76ers’ new-look roster will have to wait a little longer for its first look at the Boston Celtics.
Jaylen Brown and LeBron James are both set to sit out Saturday’s preseason game between Philadelphia and Boston, according to Sixers PR. The game is scheduled for Oct. 10 at TD Garden, and Brown’s return to that building will have to wait until the 76ers’ first regular-season trip to Boston. Brown spent 10 seasons with the Celtics before joining Philadelphia.
Philadelphia had already started Brown, James, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Joel Embiid two days earlier against the Brooklyn Nets, but this time the team will rest Embiid, James and Brown against Boston.
The matchup still carries plenty of interest because of how dramatically Philadelphia changed its roster this offseason. Brown arrived in July in a trade that sent Paul George and draft picks to Boston, ending his Celtics run after he won an NBA championship in 2024 and earned NBA Finals MVP honors. James followed in free agency, giving the 76ers another headline addition to pair with Embiid and Maxey.
Brown’s move also came after a difficult finish to his relationship with the Celtics organization. He said he was still processing the trade, but he also made clear he was excited for a fresh start with a team that believes it can chase a title.
James brings another layer to the mix. The four-time NBA champion is entering his 24th NBA season, and Philadelphia is hoping his presence helps push the group forward in a crowded Eastern Conference.
With Brown, James, Embiid and Maxey on the same roster, the 76ers have assembled one of the league’s most star-heavy lineups. Even without Brown and James on the floor Saturday, the Celtics matchup remains a useful early measuring stick for how Philadelphia stacks up against a familiar rival.
Oct. 8 at Cleveland Cavaliers 7 p.m.
Oct. 10 vs. Philadelphia 76ers 8 p.m.
Oct. 14 vs. Charlotte Hornets 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Philadelphia 76ers 7 p.m.
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Tatum And Brown Reunion Reopened An Awkward Celtics Breakup
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown found themselves on opposite sides for the first time in a preseason game, a reunion that carried more tension than nostalgia for two players who spent years as the Celtics defining duo. The matchup came after Brown was dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers this summer, a move that reshaped Bostons long-running core and left plenty of questions about how the breakup came together.
Before the game, the two did not speak during warmups, a small detail that said plenty about the awkwardness surrounding the split. The Celtics have moved on to a new chapter, but the reason behind trading Brown still is not clear, and the status of his relationship with Tatum only adds to the intrigue whenever their paths cross again. [Read more 🡒]
Celtics Are Already Sorting Out One Big Jayson Tatum Question
Jayson Tatum is expected to be right where the Celtics need him on opening night, anchoring a reshaped starting group as Boston sorts through the lineup combinations that fit best around him. With Paul George and Derrick White projected to join him, the early question is less about Tatums place and more about which supporting pieces help the Celtics make the most of a roster that has changed this season.
Boston has already begun testing those options in camp, using players such as Mitchell Robinson and Jordan Walsh to see how different looks function with Tatum as the focal point. The coaching staff is still evaluating what the best balance looks like, and the experiments so far have made clear that the final answer around Tatum is still very much being sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Paul George Just Sent Celtics Fans A Clear Jayson Tatum Message
Jayson Tatums next chapter in Boston is already drawing a different kind of partner than the one he had with Jaylen Brown. Brown and Tatum spent years carrying the Celtics as co-stars, with a competitive edge that often defined how the team was viewed, but Paul George is signaling a cleaner fit for what comes next after being traded to Boston in the Brown deal.
George has made it clear he does not want the spotlight framed as a two-man race, and that matters for how this partnership could be judged in Boston. Rather than chasing the label of the guy, he wants to complement Tatum and help push him into a higher conversation, which tells Celtics fans a lot about the tone George wants to set before the season even starts. [Read more 🡒]