JAYLEN BROWN SAYS HE HAS NOT SPOKEN TO JAYSON TATUM SINCE 76ERS TRADE

Jaylen Brown stated during his introductory press conference with the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday that he had not communicated with Jayson Tatum since being traded from the Boston Celtics in July. Brown was asked directly whether he had spoken to Tatum since the deal, to which he replied "Uh, not really". The trade sent Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George, ending nine seasons the pair spent as teammates at Boston.

Former Celtics player Kendrick Perkins responded to Brown's comments on ESPN's NBA Today programme, stating that the lack of communication between the two players was unusual given their status as championship-winning teammates. Perkins noted that whilst it was known the pair were not close outside basketball, the complete absence of contact since the trade was striking. He suggested the situation raised questions about the relationship between Brown and the broader Celtics organisation, particularly noting that Tatum did not attempt to intervene in the trade and had indicated it was time to move forward.

Perkins characterised Brown's apparent frustration with the situation as potentially significant for competing teams. Brown's focus at his 76ers introduction remained on winning, according to reports of the press conference. The forward was drafted by the Celtics and spent his entire nine-season NBA career there before the trade.