The Celtics forward posted a message thanking his now-former teammate for everything they shared, fought for, and achieved during their nine years playing together in Boston.
A day after Jaylen Brown released a statement expressing mixed emotions—”I’m still processing how all this happened. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time”—regarding the Celtics trading him to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and four future draft picks, Jayson Tatum—the player who, alongside Brown, propelled the Boston team to the top of the league and won the title in the 2023/24 season—took to Instagram to officially bid farewell to his former teammate.
In the post, he shared an old photo of the two of them accompanied by an emotional message: “9 years! Eternally grateful for everything we achieved together, and for pushing me to be a better player. From first-round exits to winning a ring together, I’m grateful for it all. Nothing but love and respect for you as a player and a person! Looking forward to seeing how you tackle this next chapter of your career, and I wish you nothing but the best! Keep being special!”
The partnership between Tatum and Brown spanned nine seasons. Together, they never missed the playoffs and reached the NBA Finals twice (including the 2021/22 season), ultimately becoming champions in 2023/24, as previously mentioned. It is worth noting that Brown was the third overall pick in the 2016 draft, while Tatum was the third pick the following year, in 2017.
The trade that sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for 36-year-old Paul George will certainly be analyzed for years to come. Despite the duo’s success, there were recurring doubts about the viability of keeping two players who occupied similar positions and who, combined, were set to earn $116.2 million (€101.79 million) in the 2026–27 season. Rumors also circulated regarding Brown’s personality and his impact on statistical metrics—particularly following a season in which the Celtics performed better when he was off the court.
Even so, it is rare to see a player of Brown’s caliber—at age 29—get traded, especially to a major rival within the same division and conference. Brown himself reacted to the news, stating that he would take with him “the relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans.”
