After the Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown, a narrative emerged.
Reports indicated that Brown carried himself like he was the smartest person in the room.
No matter how accurate, it apparently struck a nerve with Jayson Tatum.
In speaking with some youngsters at a summer camp this week, Tatum delivered a message about how to be a leader.
And in it, Tatum specifically said he doesn't want to be the smartest person in the room.
This is what he said:
“Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don’t wanna be around that person. I don’t wanna be the smartest person in the room, I want to learn from somebody else.”
Listen for yourself:
Jayson Tatum shares a motivational message on being a leader:
“Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don’t wanna be around that person. I don’t wanna be the smartest person in the room, I want to learn from somebody else.”
(h/t @lockedupjb) pic.twitter.com/VIqMq85tJw
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) July 25, 2026
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Indications are that the Brown trade to the 76ers surprised Tatum.
It was an odd finish for a pairing that for so long had been suggested as needing to break up, only to win an NBA title together with Brown as Finals MVP.
In the end, they were traded apart in a deal that makes the Celtics worse in the near term -- they got Paul George and draft picks in return.
In this case, maybe the Celtics weren't smart enough about what they were doing. That's certainly one way to look at it.
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