Why are there rumours of beef between the Celtics’ Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown?

Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla has hit out at the media for what he says is the fabrication of rumours that star duo Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown don’t get along with one another.

Why the media believe there is “natural tension” between Tatum and Brown

The 35-year-old’s comments come on the back of suggestion from ESPN pundits that there is “natural tension” between the duo, which they claim was evident following the Celtics’ Eastern Conference finals victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Brown was awarded the Larry Bird Trophy for Eastern Conference finals MVP, which he celebrated with the rest of the team after the sweep of the Pacers. For some, though, Taytum didn’t “look happy” enough for his teaMMAte, which fuelled speculation that he was jealous of the shooting guard’s achievement.

What did Joe Mazzulla say about the rumours?

Mazzulla, however, has angrily refuted those suggestions, instead criticising the media for “creating clickbait so that they can stay relevant.”

“The whole thing about that really pisses me off,” the Boston coach expanded. “They are great teammates. Their relationship is their relationship. They love each other and they push each other every single day in practice. They communicate with each other but go about winning differently.

“They’re two of the greatest teammates and greatest players you can have, and it’s been an honour to coach them. It’s bulls**t. I love both of them and they deserve better.”

Taytum and Brown chase first NBA Championship with Celtics

The Celtics have enjoyed a certain amount of success since Taytum and Brown teamed up together for the first time in 2017, although their first NBA Championship continues to elude them.

In 2022, Boston lost in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, while they have also been beaten in the conference finals on three occasions in that period. Their worst performance with the duo as part of their roster came in 2021, when they were defeated in the first round of the playoffs by the Brooklyn Nets.

Tatym and Brown can win their first championship later this month when the Celtics take on the Dallas Mavericks, with the 2024 NBA Finals starting on Thursday 6 June. Boston are strong favourites to win having had by far the best record of any team in the regular season (64-18).