Tatum regrets not publicly backing Brown enough

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, on the Open Floor podcast, detailed his conversation with Jayson Tatum in 2024, following the championship. According to Mannix, Tatum regretted not giving more public support during the period when Jaylen Brown was the subject of trade rumors over the years.

Mannix also reported that Tatum may have supported Brown behind the scenes. According to him, people close to Tatum have been telling Celtics management for years that the team is better with Brown. However, Tatum has reportedly not expressed this view publicly to the same degree.

The relationship between the two stars became a topic of debate again after Brown's trade to Philadelphia. Tatum said the Celtics management had no knowledge of the trade decision, and Brown said he did not believe those words. Tatum later said there was no serious problem between them, while Brown gave a witty but suggestive reply, saying there could be minor issues. Brown's name also came up in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade over the summer. When the Celtics could not complete that deal, the star player was sent to the Philadelphia 76ers.