Jayson Tatum didn’t need to process the biggest move of the Boston Celtics‘ offseason. According to former NBA star Jeff Teague, the Celtics star was initially shocked by the Jaylen Brown trade, but that quickly turned into motivation for what could be the best season of his career so far.
Speaking on the Club 520 podcast, Teague revealed a recent conversation he had with Tatum after Brown’s departure to the Philadelphia 76ers.
‘”I talked to my boy yesterday, my boy JT motivated. It ain’t no slight because he was legit like, ‘Damn can’t believe that sht went down.’ You know what I mean? That’s some bulls**t really…. You know what I said, I was like s**t what you gonna do? I was like s**t, the pressure’s on now, killer.”
The last part was the biggest takeaway, as the pressure is no doubt on Tatum to deliver.
For nine seasons, Tatum and Brown shared the spotlight as the best wing duo. Whether they were making deep playoff runs, winning the 2024 title, or dealing with constant trade rumors, the spotlight was always shared between the Two Js.
But now that’s done and dusted. Brown is gone, and the Celtics are Tatum’s team now.
The timing of this trade comes at one of the toughest stretches of Tatum’s career. His devastating Achilles injury in the 2025 playoffs forced him to spend months rehabbing before making his return late last season. He played in 16 games in the regular season, averaging 21.8 points, 10.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 41.1% from the field and 32.9% from three-point range as he worked his way back.
In the Celtics’ first-round playoff loss to the 76ers, he averaged 23.3 points, 10.7 rebounds and 6.8 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 36.5% from beyond the arc. Considering how recently he had returned from such a serious injury, those numbers offered plenty of optimism.
People should also not forget about who Tatum was before getting hurt.
During the 2024-25 campaign, he averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.0 assists while earning his fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team selection. He was undoubtedly one of the five best players in the world.
The Celtics need that version of Tatum back again.
Without Brown, Tatum won’t just be the number 1 option. He’ll be seen as the leader of the Celtics, carry the offense, and face the music when the Celtics fail to live up to expectations. That’s the burden of being the franchise cornerstone.
The trade comes after weeks of speculation about a disconnect between Tatum and Brown. Reports hint that the two stars ignored each other at a nightclub in Cannes, while Kendrick Perkins said Tatum and Brown never had a strong bond.
Tatum did shut down speculation of bad blood between the two, as he posted a heartfelt message after Brown’s departure.
The Celtics have made their decision. Brown is gone, and the franchise is betting on Tatum to carry them. Based on Teague’s latest comments, the 27-year-old seems to be ready to seize the moment. The Celtics will need that version of Jayson Tatum if they wish to remain among the top teams in the Eastern Conference.
