Eastern Rivalry: Jaylen Brown Faces Old Celtics Squad in Philadelphia

The 76ers enter Tuesday night's matchup at Xfinity Mobile Arena with a 9-2 record, the best mark in the league alongside their opponents, the Celtics, who stand at 8-2. Both franchises have surged since a July deal sent Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and two second-round picks in 2028 and 2030. The transaction ended a nine-season partnership between Brown and Jayson Tatum in Boston.

The road to this rivalry began on July 6 when Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens explained the rationale behind the move. Stevens cited collective-bargaining restrictions and the team's salary cap structure. He noted that 70% of the cap was tied to two players, making the path forward look challenging given recent regular season successes and playoff finishes.

Stevens stated, “I might be wrong. I’m not going to stand up here and be defensive about that, but the path looked a little bit more challenging, with 70% of our cap and such a high percent of our usage tied into two players.” Brown has maintained he never requested the trade, though tension has lingered over whether Tatum had prior knowledge of the deal.

Both stars have performed at a high level since the separation. Tatum, 28, averages 27.9 points, 8 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43.3% from the field over the first 10 games. Brown, 30, averages 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds in Philadelphia. He played alongside LeBron James and Tyrese Maxey in Sunday's 127-121 victory over Chicago, where the trio combined for 78 points.

The off-court narrative has intensified since late October. On Oct. 22, Tatum released a video stating that ESPN insider Shams Charania informed him of the trade after a pickup game in Las Vegas. Tatum claimed he was “just as much caught off guard as the rest of the world.” Brown responded the following day by posting a blue cap emoji on Tatum's video, implying the forward was not being truthful.

Tatum pushed back on the suggestion of lingering resentment. He said, “Ain’t no f, -Shaq and Kobe. There’s no beef. I understand that don’t necessarily sell. The drama gets clicks and views.” He emphasized that their shared championship history should define their legacy more than current speculation.

Brown offered a playful counterpoint to the

no beef

claim. He told the media, “There’s no beef, but it might be a little lamb chops and some gravy. He should stay ready at all times.” He added that he has “no emotion towards anything” and will see how he feels once he steps onto the court.

The two teams will meet Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 8 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Former teammates Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady will provide analysis on the emotional dynamics of the contest.