Ad Disclosure
Jaylen Brown Says He and Jayson Tatum Have “Nothing to Talk About” When Sixers Host Boston on Tuesday
By Matt Schultz
Published:
I’ve said this a bunch, and I will say it again: I’m enjoying the Jaylen Brown vs. Jayson Tatum stuff. I like when Jaylen calls Tatum a Hufflepuff. I like when JB says he has no beef with Tatum but there might be a little lamb chop, whatever the hell that means. I like checking in on both guys’ stats every week or so to see who’s been playing better, and I especially like that, so far, it’s the one who’s on my favorite team:
This is what’s up. This is what it’s all about. In an era when everyone in the NBA is buddies and works out together in the offseason and do little secret handshakes after games while talking with their towels against their mouths as if we give a rat’s ass what they’re saying, it’s nice to see two elite players who seem to genuinely, borderline hate each other. It’s got some WWE-ness to it. Some Durant vs. Westbrook-ness. Some Shaq vs. Kobe-ness. Which is fun as hell, and makes for a very entertaining subplot in an already very entertaining season. And it’s about to get even better.
On Tuesday, this side story will take center stage as Jaylen Brown plays Tatum and the Celtics in the regular season for the first time since the trade. Jaylen spoke about how he’s feeling going into the matchup following Sunday’s win in Chicago:
Transcribed, in part:
REPORTER: “How do feel as you get ready to play your former team for the first time?”
BROWN: “I think it should be fun. Never let a good opportunity for our team to be able to show what we’re made of. So I’m looking forward to a big-time matchup. Two heavyweights in the East. Let’s get it.
REPORTER: “I know you said at media. day that you and Jayson (Tatum) haven’t really talked. Have y’all talked at all since or seen each other?”
BROWN: (long, angry-seeming pause) “Nope.”
REPORTER: “In terms of seeing him again, do you plan to talk to him pre-game when you see him?”
BROWN: “Nothing to talk about. I mean, he’s on his side, I’m on my side, we’re playing basketball, both of us are trying to win. So it’s nothing to talk about. Check the ball up.”
Did you see how long JB took before he answered whether he’s talked to Tatum? He looked out to the horizon for what felt like two straight minutes, looking haunted by his thoughts, before he replied with a brusque “Nope.” Guy seems pissed! This is the look of a man who is pissed:
Feels to me like JB is taking everything that’s happened personally – how the Celtics treated him while he was there, being regarded as second fiddle whenever Tatum was involved, being mentioned in trade rumors for years, the fans’ constant criticism of his play despite his success – all of it. Seems like he holds Tatum himself responsible for a lot of it, too. And I, for one, am pretty amped about it. Think it’ll make for some good television on Tuesday night.
Here’s to hoping Nick Nurse and the Sixers feed JB all damn night. Let him shoot the ball 80 times. Let him break Wilt’s scoring record. He can do it. I believe this. He’s just furious enough to make this happen. Can’t wait to see it.
Matt Schultz is a comedy and sports writer from Philadelphia. He’s written extensively for ClickHole, The Onion, and Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco. His work has been featured in Vulture, Deadspin, The A.V. Club, Paste Magazine, and other publications. Much of his sports journalism can be found on college basketball websites that don’t exist anymore (PhilaHoops Heads rise up…) email: M.Schultz@sportradar.com