Since Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum came into the league in 2016 and 2017, respectively, everybody has had an opinion about their relationship. Those takes have only grown louder and more prevalent in 2026, as the C's traded Brown to the rival Philadelphia 76ers in July, ending a fruitful, nine-year partnership in the process.
A public back-and-forth in the press (and on social media) has also added to the narrative that the former teammates don't get along despite winning a championship together in 2024. But, what do the people who know Tatum and Brown better than most think of the alleged divide between them? Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard, who played alongside Brown for six seasons and is still Tatum's teammate, weighed in on the drama
during a Tuesday morning shootaround in Philadelphia.
"I don’t think there was ever beef or anything," Pritchard said, via CLNS Media. "I think it’s working relationships. Some people are closer than others, but find a way to win and keep going.”
At one point, there was no denying Tatum and Brown's closeness. Brown's brother babysat Tatum's oldest son, Deuce, Tatum urged the Celtics to extend Brown in 2023, and Brown gave a shout-out to Tatum while accepting 2024 NBA Finals MVP.
Perhaps the trade was the ultimate breaking point, because Pritchard, former Celtics like Grant Williams and Danilo Gallinari, and others tied to the Green Team prior to this offseason have all refused to use the term beef to describe Tatum and Brown's partnership.
Regardless of when things soured, the Celtics and Sixers have a high-profile game to play on Tuesday night in South Philly. If the 8-2 Celtics can prevail, they'll take first place from the 9-2, Eastern Conference-leading Sixers. This is worth noting before the Tatum and Brown talking points override everything else that occurs at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
"Two really great teams going at it," Pritchard said. "Nothing better than that."
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard weighs in on supposed Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown beef
