Tatum posted a tribute to Brown! I only have appreciation and respect for you, thank you for pushing me to become a better player

On July 4th Beijing time, Celtics star Jayson Tatum updated his Instagram to pay tribute to former teammate Jaylen Brown. In a previous trade, Brown was sent to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and a draft pick.

Tatum shared a photo of the two together and wrote: “Nine full years! I am sincerely thankful for all we achieved together, and for always motivating me to improve as a player. From being eliminated in the first round to winning a championship together, I am grateful for every part of this journey. On the court and as a person, I have nothing but admiration and respect for you! I look forward to seeing you begin a new chapter in your career and shine. I genuinely wish you all the best! Always stay uniquely brilliant!”

Previously, renowned reporter McMahon discussed the relationship between Tatum and Brown on a show. When asked by the host about Tatum's role in the trade, McMahon said: “I can't give a definitive answer. But as Jaylen Brown said, there is more to this story; he left a lot of room for speculation. What I can say is that league insiders generally suspect the trade is linked to the long-standing internal friction between the two, which intensified after this season ended.”

“No one outside the Celtics' internal management knows the truth. I don't want to make baseless guesses, but one thing can be inferred: if Tatum had strongly opposed the trade, it could have been stopped entirely, but clearly, he did not do so.”

The Celtics' decision to trade Brown has drawn widespread criticism, not only from fans and commentators. Windhorst also reported that many within the league believe the 76ers essentially got Jaylen Brown for almost nothing.