Jayson Tatum’s Heartfelt Goodbye to Jaylen Brown After 9 Years Together: “Forever Grateful”

The era of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown in Boston has finally come to an end after nine years. It was an unceremonious ending to one of the best duos in the league for nearly a decade.

Brown was first traded by the Boston Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. The following year, they were handed the No. 3 pick once again and used it to draft Tatum.

The young duo went on to taste success early in their careers, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in their first season together. They went on to have a great friendship for the next nine years.

After Brown’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, Tatum took to his Instagram and officially bid farewell to his now former teammate. He posted a picture of the pair from their early years. The caption was:

9 years! Forever grateful for all that we accomplished together, for pushing me to be a better player. From first round exits to winning a chip together I’m thankful for it all. Nothing but love and respect for you as a player and as a person! Looking forward to see how you attack this next chapter of your career and wish nothing but the best for you! Continue to be special!

Tatum on his Instagram story

Jayson Tatum’s IG story about Jaylen Brown

Nothing but respect. ✊ pic.twitter.com/pSNxl8FMFm

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 3, 2026

After failing to trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Celtics continued to speak to clubs as Brown’s future remained uncertain. In the end, he was traded to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and a few picks.

The blockbuster trade was a big surprise to many in the NBA world, including Brown himself. The forward revealed that the Celtics just “packed him up” and he was still processing the whole situation.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum could not have the season they would have wanted

The 2025-26 campaign will go down as the season where Jaylen Brown showed everyone that he is one of the best players in the league today. With Jayson Tatum missing for the majority of the season, Brown led the Celtics to a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference standings with a 56-26 record.

In a season with low expectations, Brown impressed everyone with his performances and finished sixth in the MVP voting. He posted career-highs in all categories as he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists in 71 appearances.

Meanwhile, Tatum missed 65 games last season due to a long-term injury he suffered in the playoffs last year. While many considered Tatum the best player and leader of the Celtics, Brown emerged as the team’s leader after the 2025-26 season.

Their postseason was short-lived as they were knocked out by the 76ers in the first round. They blew a 3-1 lead to Brown’s new team and ultimately lost Game 7 in Boston. Unfortunately, Game 6 of the first round was the last time the two stars played together.

Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum will have regular meetings next season

It will be odd to see Tatum and Brown face each other after spending so many years together. They never missed a playoff throughout their time together in Boston. They reached the NBA Finals twice and won the championship in 2024, with Brown winning the Finals MVP award.

Many believed that the two could have won multiple championships together in the coming years. They have always shared a special bond, as seen in Tatum’s emotional post for Brown, and both of them are still very much in the prime of their careers.

At the moment, the Celtics are the biggest losers of the trade. Brown is coming off an MVP-caliber season and was traded for very little considering he is just 29 years old. But it is possible that the relationship between the player and organization deteriorated with time.

While they may not share a dressing room together, Tatum and Brown will be expected to face off multiple times next season. The two clubs have a strong rivalry between them and are in the Atlantic Division. It will be interesting to see some good storylines when the two former teammates face each other next season.

Also Read:

• Ex-NFL Stars Support Jaylen Brown’s Rant Against Colin Cowherd & Stephen A. Smith’s Use of ‘Anonymous Sources’
• Jaylen Brown Reveals His Honest Reaction to Blockbuster Trade: “Boston Packed Me Up”