Celtics Star Jaylen Brown Criticized for Subtle Dig at Injured Teammate Tatum

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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been criticized by NBA fans for seemingly taking another subtle dig at his injured teammate Jayson Tatum. Brown shared a side-by-side comparison of the Celtics' stats this season and last season, which many interpreted as him trying to show the team doesn't need Tatum. Fans accused Brown of being a 'bad teammate' and constantly trying to 'snatch Tatum's chain' as the franchise player.

Why it matters

The Celtics have been one of the surprises of the NBA season, maintaining their level of play despite the absence of Tatum due to an Achilles injury. However, Brown's apparent attempts to elevate himself at the expense of his injured teammate have rubbed many fans the wrong way and raised questions about the team's chemistry and Brown's leadership.

The details

In posts on both Instagram and Twitter, Brown shared a graphic comparing the Celtics' stats at the All-Star break this season and last season. Many fans saw this as Brown trying to show the team is better off without the injured Tatum, with one saying 'He is a terrible teammate' and another wondering 'Am I the only one who finds it weird how he openly wants to snatch Tatum's chain in Boston and be the franchise player?'

• The Celtics are currently 35-19 and second in the Eastern Conference heading into the All-Star break.

What’s next

The Celtics will look to maintain their strong play in the second half of the season as they await the return of Jayson Tatum from his Achilles injury.