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[Saba Sports News] For years, rumors of discord have surrounded Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown’s relationship. Tatum insists these rumors were unfounded but admitted in a recent interview that he contributed to their persistence.
In a conversation with Chris Mannix of SI, the Boston Celtics star acknowledged that he could have done more to publicly affirm Brown’s importance to the team.
Tatum explained that his reluctance to engage in front office decisions was often misinterpreted as indifference towards Brown’s status.
“I’ve always told him that maybe I could have done a better job of voicing my feelings in the public eye,” Tatum said. “He always knew I wanted him here. I never went to Brad [Stevens] or any player saying, ‘I want this guy in or out.’ I just wanted to do my job and play basketball. Looking back, I realize I could have been more vocal publicly, saying, ‘We want JB.’ I just wanted to stay out of it.”
Tatum’s well-intentioned stance inadvertently allowed rumors to thrive, to the extent that rival coaches tried to exploit a perceived feud during the 2024 playoffs.
With a championship now under their belt, Tatum and Brown may face less of this chatter, but doubters will likely persist.