Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown spent nearly a decade building their legacy together in Boston, reaching the NBA’s highest peak with a championship in 2024. But when the Celtics stunningly traded Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers in July, the partnership that defined an era in Boston came to an abrupt end.

Tatum recently revealed how he learned about the blockbuster move, explaining that he was just as caught off guard as everyone else. While some NBA fans questioned his reaction, others felt his comments showed how much the Celtics stars’ relationship meant to him.

NBA Fans Split Over Jayson Tatum’s Account of His Reaction to Jaylen Brown Trade

In Thursday’s vlog on his YouTube channel, Tatum recalled being in Las Vegas when Celtics player development coach God Shammgod Jr. approached him after a pickup basketball game. Shammgod handed Tatum a towel and told him to cover his face so he would not react to the news that Boston had traded Brown.

Tatum’s immediate response was disbelief, particularly after learning that Philadelphia was Brown’s destination.

“I’m like, ‘Oh [expletive],’ I’m like, ‘Where?’ He said, ‘Philly.’ I said, ‘You traded him down the street?'” Tatum recalled. “So, I was just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world.”

That detail did not convince everyone, though.

“He wasn’t mad they traded him, just mad it was to Philly,” one fan suggested.

Another questioned Tatum’s sincerity, claiming, “This shows how fake he is not even sad he got traded but where he got traded.”

“Performative,” another fan bluntly declared.

One fan even suggested Tatum had a hand in the decision, quipping, “Tatum the one put the call in.”

However, not everyone bought into the idea that the former Celtics teammates had fallen out. NBA analyst Raheem Palmer backed Tatum’s account.

“I can confirm this is 100% true. He was in Vegas for Summer League with Amile, who was coaching the Summer League team. He also had a camp he was throwing,” Palmer wrote.

He also pushed back against speculation about a feud, adding, “People want there to be beef with him and Jaylen, but Tatum had absolutely nothing to do with this trade and was just as shocked as everyone else.”

The emotional side of the split also resonated with Celtics supporters. CelticsUnite welcomed Tatum’s comments, writing, “It’s actually comforting to know the Jays are still on good terms. Jayson didn’t even know JB was getting traded… ‘I was just caught off guard… You won’t ever be able to talk about one of us without the other.'”

Another fan summed up the feeling more simply: “It hurts my heart watching this.”

Tatum made it clear that, regardless of how their partnership ended, their shared accomplishments would remain part of NBA history. The Celtics star also credited Brown with helping him improve.

“I will always say I knew every time I stepped on that court that when it was time to go to war, I looked to my left and my right and No. 7 was over there, I knew that he was going to do whatever it took for us to try to win,” Tatum added.

“The way we pushed each other. I definitely made him better, and he made me better. And we made our team better. We made this organization better. We won a championship. We are forever stitched in stone in NBA history. We held up that trophy. It won’t ever be forgotten.”

But the story took another turn when Bleacher Report shared a clip of Tatum’s comments on Instagram. Brown responded with a blue hat emoji, commonly used to call someone a liar. His reaction appeared to challenge Tatum’s claim that he was blindsided by the trade.

The deal marked a major shift in the Eastern Conference. Brown, a five-time All-Star and the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, had spent his entire 10-year career in Boston. He averaged a team-high 28.7 points per game in the 2025-26 season, helping the Celtics secure the East’s No. 2 seed with a 56-26 record while Tatum missed most of the campaign recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Boston sent Brown to Philadelphia over the offseason in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031), and two second-round picks (2028, 2030). The move broke up a championship duo and sent one of Boston’s formidable scorers to a conference rival.

Philadelphia also added LeBron James in a separate move, creating an imposing core alongside Brown, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey. The two former teammates will now meet as rivals when the 76ers host the Celtics in their first regular-season matchup on Nov. 10.