For the first time in their careers, aside from Jaylen Brown’s rookie season, he and Jayson Tatum will be playing for different organizations. When Brown was traded to Philadelphia earlier this summer, many questioned whether his relationship with Tatum had begun to deteriorate.
Those rumors were initially dismissed. However, Tatum may, in fact, have some resentment toward his former Celtics teammate after appearing to take a subtle shot at Brown this weekend.
Jayson Tatum Takes Veiled Shot at Former Celtics Teammate Jaylen Brown
While speaking to youth at a basketball event this weekend for The Jayson Tatum Foundation, the Celtics superstar shared a motivational message about leadership.
“Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don’t wanna be around that person,” Tatum said. “I don’t wanna be the smartest person in the room, I want to learn from somebody else.”
Jayson Tatum shares a motivational message on being a leader:
“Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don’t wanna be around that person. I don’t wanna be the smartest person in the room, I want to learn from somebody else.”
(h/t @lockedupjb) pic.twitter.com/VIqMq85tJw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 25, 2026
Fans on social media were quick to speculate that Tatum was taking a direct shot at Brown.
For context, amid the aftermath of the Brown trade, analyst Colin Cowherd said that he spoke with multiple NBA executives, one of whom described Brown’s personality as “the smartest guy in the room.”
“I had two NBA sources… two people in the league, one an executive, one a scout, say that Jaylen Brown has – it’s a disease,” Cowherd shared. “He suddenly thinks he’s the smartest guy in every room he’s in.”
In response, Brown went on a livestream the following day to address the backlash and give Cowherd and the NBA executives a piece of his mind. “In sports, no offense to everybody, in sports — but the bar is [expletive] low. You know what I mean. The bar isn’t that high.”
Tatum missed all but 16 games during the regular season while recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2024-25 playoffs. He managed to return down the stretch, with the exception of Game 7 against the 76ers, but ultimately deferred to Brown, who had been playing at an All-NBA level throughout the season.
In 71 regular-season games, Brown averaged career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. He earned an All-Star selection, was named to the All-NBA Second Team, and finished sixth in MVP voting.
Unfortunately, when the playoffs arrived, the Celtics fell to Brown’s eventual team, the 76ers. Boston notably blew a 3-1 series lead, raising questions about Brown’s leadership and ability to be a true No. 1 option.
Seemingly, Tatum shared that same sentiment, as evidenced by his recent comments. The six-time All-Star is expected to enter the 2026-27 season at full health, making every matchup against Brown and the 76ers worth watching.
