Jaylen Brown Reveals If He'll Talk to Jayson Tatum Prior to 1st Celtics vs. 76ers Game Since Trade

Jaylen Brown doesn't seem interested in chopping it up with Jayson Tatum ahead of Tuesday's matchup between the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics, the first regular-season meeting between the teams since Brown was traded to Philly over the summer.

"There's nothing to talk about," he told reporters Sunday. "I mean, he's on his side, I'm on my side. Playing basketball, both of us are trying to win. So there's nothing to talk about. Check the ball out.

Brown and Tatum have offered far different perspectives regarding Brown's trade this summer from the Celtics to the Sixers, culminating in Brown saying that there wasn't any beef between the two men but "there might be a little lamb chops and some gravy. He should stay ready at all times."

He also said that Tatum has "a great PR team."

Tatum has also said there was no beef, though he wasn't the player who was traded.

"I don't have any animosity or beef or ill will towards him," Tatum told reporters in late October. "The frustrating part is since he's not on the Celtics anymore, the narrative or conversations haven't been enough about what we accomplished, all the games we won, winning the championship, how we've grown together, right?"

Brown's traded in June—the Sixers sent Paul George, two first-round picks (2028, 2031) and two second-round picks (2028, 2030) to Boston to land the 30-year-old star—sent shockwaves throughout the NBA. Tatum and Brown had won a title together and were both in their prime, calling into question whether the partnership between the duo had started to splinter.

Regardless, it had something of a domino effect, with LeBron James later noting that part of the reason he joined the Sixers was the acquisition of Brown. Those Sixers are now 9-2 on the season and Brown is finding his groove with his new team, averaging 22.3 points per contest.

Tuesday's reunion between Brown and Tatum obviously is going to attract plenty of attention. But Brown didn't offer any insight into whether he's feeling extra motivation to stick it to his former teammate on Sunday.