It’s understandable that Jaylen Brown was not happy when the Boston Celtics sent him to a bitter rival.
Brown’s name had come up in trade rumors multiple times over the last few years. After the team failed to land Giannis Antetokounmpo this past offseason — with Brown and his salary going to Milwaukee to make it all work — it seemed like the damage had been done. Brown was seemingly shopped to just about every team in the league.
After 10 years, five All-Star selections, two All-NBA nods and a Finals
MVP, the Celtics were trying to pack him up, as Brown put it. So, you could imagine Brown’s surprise when he was ultimately traded to the Sixers, a franchise he tortured often while in Boston.
While Brown was diplomatic when asked about his time with the Celtics during his introductory presser in Philly, you could tell feelings lingered. He revealed that he still hadn’t spoken to Jayson Tatum, his All-Star teammate of nine years, since the trade broke.
Recently, Tatum posted an interview to YouTube where he recollected the moment Brown was traded. Brown obviously didn’t think Tatum was being truthful and commented.
Even if Brown didn’t comment, you’d have to be awfully naive to believe Tatum. You’re telling me Brad Stevens made a blockbuster trade that could change the entire trajectory of the franchise … and his star player found out the same time as the rest of the world? Yeah, cap is fair.
Tatum downplayed Brown’s comments, saying there was no beef. That led to Brown’s colorful response about lamb chops and gravy while also pointing out Tatum has a “great PR team.” A petty response? For sure. But it was a fun moment and, at that point, it seemed like everyone was ready to keep it moving.
Then Brian Scalabrine had to insert himself into the situation. Scalabrine reported then recanted (kind of, sort of, but with a lot of arrogance) that Brown “demanded” a trade. Multiple reports have debunked that being the case, but that wasn’t a remedy for Scalabrine’s main character syndrome. He took it to the broadcast to insult Brown again.
So, he reported something that wasn’t true, awkwardly recanted it, then sort of doubled down for his dislike of Brown. Scalabrine mocked the idea of doing PR for Tatum … while actively doing PR for Tatum. He spent five years with the Celtics as a player and has been working on Boston’s basketball broadcasts in some capacity since 2012. His loyalty is obvious. Just last year, he was doing PR work trying to get Brown in the MVP conversation. Now, he’s discrediting the season Brown had in 2025-26.
That’s why Brown’s response to Scalabrine was a smart one. When it’s Brown vs. Tatum, that’s real drama with a potential payoff when the two play each other for the first time. Having beef (or lamb chop) with a pom-pom waving commentator is a losing battle.
If you viewed his response to Tatum as petty, this was the exact opposite. Brown took the high road, despite Scalabrine laying it on pretty thick over the last week or so. It makes Brown look like the bigger person and Scalabrine look silly.
We still have to wait until Nov. 10 to see Brown go up against Tatum and his former team — and we have to wait all the way until January to see Brown’s return to Boston.
Whether it’s beef or lamb chops with gravy, it should be fun.
