Jaylen Brown has added fresh heat to a Celtics-76ers rivalry that already didn’t need much help.
The newest wrinkle came when Brown was asked about Jayson Tatum’s reaction to the blockbuster deal that sent Brown away. Tatum had said he was caught off guard when he learned about the trade, but Brown pushed back on social media with a cap emoji, a clear signal that he didn’t buy that version of events.
Brown was then pressed on what the post meant, and he kept insisting there’s no actual beef with Tatum. Still, he left the door open for some tension, saying that " there might be a little lamb chops and some gravy" between them. He also made it plain with one blunt line: Tatum "should stay ready at all times."
That adds another layer to a matchup that already carries plenty of edge. Brown and Tatum helped Boston win a championship two years ago, but their relationship has long been viewed through the prism of outside noise, with the media constantly framing them as rivals.
Both players downplayed any real animosity over the summer, saying there were no hard feelings. Even so, there have been signs the bond isn’t exactly warm. In one preseason meeting, Brown was seen ignoring Tatum when they were right next to each other.
The Celtics and 76ers will meet for the first time in the regular season on Nov. 10, about three weeks away. It’s the first of at least four scheduled games between the teams, and Brown already seems locked in for it.
Philadelphia has gotten out to a fast start, and Boston would probably prefer not to see that group gain any extra edge from Brown’s words. But that’s exactly what’s on the table now: a rivalry game with a little more bite, a little more attitude, and a lot more reason for both sides to circle the date.
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Jaylen Brown Keeps Sixers Fans Watching This Celtics Drama
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Brown did not exactly close the door on the subject, instead pointing to Tatums public relations team and stopping short of saying he wants to clear the air privately. The bigger mystery is still the same one hanging over the exchange: the two stars have different versions of how much Tatum knew about Browns move from the Celtics to the Sixers, and neither has laid out the full story. For Sixers fans, it is a reminder that this is not just old Celtics drama. It is a subplot tied directly to one of their most prominent players. [Read more 🡒]
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For a Philadelphia team watching the East unfold around it, that kind of early growth across the conference matters, especially with Joel Embiid set to miss a game while managing plantar fasciitis. The Sixers have their own health concerns to track, and while the Nets are still searching for their first win, the emergence of a couple of promising pieces gives Brooklyn at least one reason to stay patient. [Read more 🡒]
Sixers Loss Exposed An Early Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The 76ers first loss of the season came with a familiar early-season reminder: even a team that opens 3-0 can still have obvious flaws lurking beneath the results. Short-handed against the Pistons, Philadelphia missed two starters and never found a steady rhythm, especially on the glass and from long range. The rebounding issues showed up quickly, and the offense spent too much of the night fighting uphill after a sluggish shooting performance.
What stood out most was how uneven the night felt for a team that had been so sharp to start. Philadelphia still pressured the ball well and continued to force turnovers at a strong rate, keeping its turnover margin in positive territory, but the rest of the box score told a tougher story. The 26 percent shooting from beyond the arc was hard to overcome, and it left the Sixers with more questions than answers as they move deeper into the opening stretch. [Read more 🡒]