One of the biggest stories in the NBA this Summer involved the Boston Celtics trading star player Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. While the Celtics were rumored to move Brown for multiple years, finalizing the deal and sending him to a rival was shocking to many fans and insiders.
As Brown trade talks started gaining more momentum, rumors spread regarding his relationship with fellow star player Jayson Tatum. A former teammate shared more insight into the situation.
Grant Williams Reveals Celtics Dynamic Between Jayson Tatum And Jaylen Brown
Former Celtic and current Charlotte Hornet Grant Williams discussed the relationship between the stars while the three players were teammates in Boston.
Williams said, “Sometimes these are competitors and you want to have the best career individually, but also you can bring the best out of someone besides you, and I think that’s what it was for those two. They enjoyed being around one another on the court, as well as they didn’t have any disdain for one another off the floor.”
Former Celtic Grant Williams on the relationship between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown:
“You can bring the best out of someone else beside you. And I think that’s what it was for those two, that they had respect for one another, they enjoyed being around one another when they’re…
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) August 5, 2026
Tatum and Brown have repeatedly denied any personal friction between them, yet there were multiple reports around the time the Celtics traded Brown that the two stars had minimal off-the-floor contact. Some media members wondered why Tatum never went on Brown’s podcast and saw that as a sign of tension between them.
Other members of the NBA community, notably Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, said the talk of Tatum and Brown’s off-court relationship was overblown, and it didn’t matter if they hung out together all the time. Ultimately, the Celtics decided it was time to make a move.
Williams believes Tatum and Brown brought out the best in each other, something both stars have acknowledged. However, there was a constant public perception that Tatum was the Celtics’ best player. Tatum has made the All-NBA First Team four times, an accolade Brown is still striving for.
Brown was named NBA Finals MVP when the Celtics won the championship in 2024, sparking speculation about whether the two stars could play together long term.
Brown helped keep the Celtics at the top of the Eastern Conference while Tatum was recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which solidified his status as an alpha in the eyes of many fans.
With Tatum back to full strength this upcoming season, the Celtics likely felt Brown wouldn’t be comfortable sliding back into a co-star role. Brown has expressed public frustration about being traded, and the Celtics vs. 76ers games are among the most anticipated matchups next season.
When Tatum and Brown compete against each other this upcoming season, Williams believes it won’t be a sign of a fractured relationship, but the natural competitiveness that’s always been there.
