One of the most anticipated individual matchups throughout the NBA this season is Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum going against Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown.

The former teammates are now opponents after the Celtics traded Brown to the 76ers in a highly controversial move. As the teams prepare to face each other, top sports media figure Stephen A. Smith revealed his thoughts on the matchup.

Stephen A. Smith Previews Jayson Tatum-Jaylen Brown Matchup

With the Celtics opting to make Tatum the undisputed number one option, Smith focused on him. He spoke about how the Celtics star now does not have Brown as a “security blanket” anymore.

“Jayson Tatum, it’s his bite at the apple now where he gets to be; even though he’s always been number one, he doesn’t get to have the security blanket that is Jaylen Brown. And so, you know, they’re gonna go at it; they play similar positions. That’s who they are. This is what basketball is all about,” Smith said on “First Take” on Tuesday.

“They don’t hate each other or anything like that. They’re competitors… Jaylen Brown is made of that cloth. I believe Jayson Tatum is too. That is why it’s something to look forward to, and I can’t wait,” he added.

While Tatum and Brown had a successful, near-decade-long partnership in Boston, many fans and analysts continually questioned whether the two stars would play together for their entire careers.

Speculation about their ability to play with each other increased significantly following the 2024 NBA Finals, when Brown was named Finals MVP as the Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks.

The doubts continued at the end of last season. Tatum tore his Achilles in the 2025 playoffs, which enabled Brown to enter last season as the Celtics’ clear top option. Brown responded with an MVP-caliber season. However, the Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.

There were questions regarding whether Brown would accept taking a back seat to a fully healthy Tatum this season. Those questions became moot when Boston traded Brown to Philadelphia over the summer and committed to building around Tatum.

Rumors regarding the relationship between Tatum and Brown spread after the trade, and they intensified when Brown appeared to dispute Tatum’s claim.

Smith believes the two stars will prioritize competing against each other moving forward. The trade has benefitted both teams in the season’s initial weeks, as the Celtics and 76ers have the best records in the Eastern Conference.

Brown is averaging 22.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4 assists per game, while sharing the offensive burden with Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and VJ Edgecombe.

Tatum is averaging 27.1 points, 6 rebounds, and 7.8 assists per game, though he’s shooting 42 percent from the field and 31.3% from three.

As Smith notes, Tatum is the clear focus of opposing defenses now and is on pace for the highest usage rate of his career.

Tatum and Brown’s performances will likely be compared for the rest of their careers, as both look to win an NBA championship without the other as a teammate.