Jaylen Brown Needs to Stop Playing Games When it Comes to Jayson Tatum Situation

Former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown likely won't read my advice. And if he ever did, he probably won't care.

That's all fine, but I'm going to give it anyways.

Brown needs to do one of two things with regards to Jayson Tatum. He needs to either put the full story out on the table, or he needs to take the high road and be done with this.

The in-between sideshow is just completely unnecessary, and it's making him look bad. It's that simple.

It's obvious that Brown has an issue with Tatum, but his unwillingness to divulge it, his desire to speak in riddles, and his shunning of Tatum in Tuesday's pregame interaction, just makes him look petty. Even after the game, he didn't really address things.

As I've said all along, I understand why Brown is upset. He feels he's just as good as Tatum, and he feels that he was integral to the Celtics' NBA title win in 2023-24. He feels he carried the team in Tatum's absence last season. He feels he earned respect that he wasn't given.

He is resentful at the organization, and he's at least somewhat resentful of Tatum. It's all understandable. Everyone has been wronged before. By an employer, by a friend, by someone. We've all been there.

However, this "underneath the surface" stuff doesn't work, and again, it's just diminishing Brown.

1) If you want to make a public spectacle of things, then burn all the bridges and get everything out in the open. Tell us why you are mad at the Celtics. Tell us why you are upset with Tatum. Paint the picture as you see it, and then, maybe people will understand why you feel like you do.

2) If you want to handle it in private, then answer the phone when Tatum calls you. Have it out behind closed doors. Handle it like adults and then come and tell us you took care of it. The media will keep asking, but you can at least say you handled everything internally. 

3) Brown has a chance to do both of these things. If he wants to take them, they are right there in front of him. If he doesn't want to take them, then fine. But you've had your chance. If you don't want to use it, it's time to put the beef to bed. This gray area does nobody any good, especially you.

When the 76ers visit the Celtics in January, it should be a celebration of Brown's career there. However, the more he plays the game, the more he chips away at his legacy there.