Legend has it that the NBA found a way to ‘annoy’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown this summer

Year after year, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have proven to be one of the most potent duos in the NBA after seven seasons together. But after winning their first-ever championship last season, they finally proved they have what it takes to be remembered as one of the best duos in league history.

Still, the fact that the Celtics haven’t even won their first title since 2008 has some convinced them that they deserve the recognition, as both players have had their share of disappointments this summer and much has been said about it. First it was JB who was cut from the Olympic roster, and then JT saw limited playing time with Team USA.

One Hall of Famer wasn’t going to let that happen. “I think Jaylen not being on the Olympic team and Jayson not playing… They’re the reigning champions who are taking their confidence to the next level. The NBA found a way to upset both of them this summer,” Charles Barkley said this week.

Charles Barkley on Tatum and Brown
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“The NBA found a way to piss them both off this summer”
–#Celtic #bostonceltics
Via @BillSimmons
⚡️ by @PrizePicks @Gametime photo.twitter.com/agpE62VXX8

— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) September 5, 2024

“How about this? Only the NBA can do that. Let’s piss off two of the best 10 players in the NBA after they just won a championship,” he asserted, after Brown finished last season with averages of 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game and Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.0 steals per game.

Boston also captured the NBA title with JB as their Finals MVP, and many considered him a better addition to Team USA’s gold medal aspirations than Derrick White. Either way, JB didn’t want any trouble, so he revealed that he called his teammate to make sure there was no “mix-up.”

“I called Derrick right away,” the All-Star told reporters last month ahead of the Celtics’ summer league game against the Lakers in Las Vegas. “Just to make sure there’s no confusion, my love for you and stuff like that. He knew that, and he did that. You don’t always have to put everything out there. D-White and I are good.”

JB Expects Him To Use Rejection As Motivation And Embrace The Villain Role In The Next Season: ‘I Want Blood’

Based on Jaylen’s Twitter posts at the time, the player understood that this wasn’t entirely a personal attack on him, but he did mention that Nike was likely one of the reasons he wasn’t considered. When you add in his Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP trophies, it does feel odd that he wasn’t called up to represent his country.

Whatever the real reasons, there was certainly drama in this one, and Brown plans to use it as motivation. While responding to comments on his own Instagram post, he liked a comment that said, “JB villain year load…” and then responded by warning the rest of the competition, “I want blood.”

Meanwhile, the Celtics star is preparing to return to the NBA fold. While he enjoys the adulation that comes with winning an NBA championship in Boston, he is focused on leading the group to defend another title next year.

“Last year is over, honestly. We celebrated; we had a good time. It was a great summer. I had a great summer, by the way. But it’s over,” JB said. “Now we have a target on our backs. Everyone’s trying to get us and I’m like, ‘Come on.’ It’s time to work again. And I’m looking forward to next season.”