It was the NBA’s most anticipated moment of the night. After his summer trade, Jaylen Brown reconnected with Jayson Tatum in Philadelphia, where they wouldn’t be judged solely for their basketball abilities, but also, in a sense, for the mental burden that the past situation and the exchanges since they went their separate ways had generated. In the end, the Celtics’ player emerged victorious.
The first time they faced off during the game, Brown’s foray on offense against Tatum’s defense, the now 76ers player stumbled and lost the ball. In the very next play he committed a foul on Tatum while arguing with the referees. It was a clear reflection of a night Jaylen seems eager to forget as soon as possible, especially considering he ended up losing 101-123.
“I was really looking forward to this game. I expected to play well, but… that’s how it goes. I guess I have to prepare for the next one,” he says, before downplaying the chilly greeting with his former teammate, which arrived after he hugged the rest of the Boston players.
“I’m just focused on doing what’s best for my team. As for the rest… to be honest, I didn’t even notice. But credit to Jayson; he played well tonight,” he admits.
Jaylen Brown and the Emotional Burden
Jaylen Brown appeared overwhelmed by the circumstances. Impulsive, anxious… He seemed desperate to prove that the Celtics had lost out with his trade. He couldn’t. He finished with 13 points on 4-of-9 shooting, a stat line he attributes to his foul trouble.
“Honestly, I’m a little frustrated. There wasn’t any emotional issue. I was fully focused; I was into the game, ready to play. The foul trouble knocked me off rhythm a bit. I had to sit for a good spell, and we didn’t execute as well as they did,” he states.
