"I'm Like, Oh Shit" - Jayson Tatum Telling The Story Of When He Found Out About The Jaylen Brown Trade Felt Like A Dagger To The Heart
Maddie Meyer. Getty Images.A few weeks ago, Jaylen Brown talked about how when the Celtics played the Sixers in the preseason, it was like when you run into your ex in public. He couldn't have been more spot on. And while Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown didn't face off that night, it was hard to escape what took place pregame
From this moment on, the discourse between the two became toxic as hell. Jaylen certainly didn't help things by taking a pretty clean shot at Tatum when he talked about his Finals MVP, and I said at the time that at the end of the day the whole thing just made me sad. Two Celtics legends that brought me an insane amount of joy, I hate that this is how their story went.
Once the season started, like most I tried my best to turn the page. There's genuine excitement around this upcoming season (opener notwithstanding), Paul George has looked awesome since he became a Celtic, it was time to move forward.
Then here comes Jayson Tatum with his short documentary seris. Now I have to not only rip off the Band-Aid, but I'm basically re-opening the wounds and rubbing salt all over them
God dammit
Giphy Images.Just like it was painful to hear Jaylen talk about the trade on his stream, it was equally as painful to hear Tatum talk about the moment he found out. I dunno, I know the internet and the media is pushing the idea that Jayson Tatum forced the trade and hates Jaylen Brown and all that shit, and to me it's mostly a projection of what they've wanted to believe is true as some sort fo weird confirmation bias. Do I think Tatum would still want to play with Jaylen? I do. Do I think he's heartbroken that they're split? I do not. I do not see this as a Kobe/Shaq situation, but at this point who cares. What's done is done. But what we do know, is that clearly Jaylen Brown feels a certain type of way. He wasted no time added more fuel to the fire after the Sixers big comeback last night
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As I said, the whole thing just makes me sad.
Watching that episode, I couldn't help but feel the tightness in my chest. Each passing frame felt like a dagger right to my heart. All of the feelings I thought I was over came rushing back. I imagine this is also going to be the case the first time these two teams play, and most certainly when Jaylen makes his return to the Garden. I'm already dreading it to be honest with you.
Now that we've gotten more of Tatum's side, perhaps this can be the closure that many, myself included, need. It's definitely going to annoy me that this is going to be a storyline for the rest of our lives, but this is how the NBA works sometimes. There's no denying the Tatum and Brown duo were one of the greatest duos in NBA history. What they achieved together simply doesn't happen.
But those days have sadly come to an end whether we like it or not. Sigh.