Jaylen Brown, the five-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP, might have been all smiles for the cameras at his Philadelphia introduction, but his first reaction to getting traded there was anything but celebratory. He tossed his phone across the room when he got the news. That’s a gut punch, especially for a guy who spent his entire NBA career with the Celtics.
The “False Alarm” That Wasn’t For Jaylen
The atmosphere inside the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center on Thursday was absolutely buzzing, a total party. Philadelphia’s front office folks were grinning ear to ear, and you had dozens of kids already rocking Brown jerseys. A tunnel of people welcomed him and his family, and the applause was deafening. But Brown himself, even as he spoke, didn’t seem quite as ecstatic as the crowd. Can you blame him? This wasn’t just another trade rumor. He was involved in these kinds of talks before, and he admitted he might have thought it was “just another a false alarm.” Nope. This one stuck. The trade went through on Monday, July 6, sending the 29-year-old to an in-division foe. He’d even voiced his displeasure on Twitch about how the whole deal was handled, though he clamped up on the details for reporters. Mike Gansey, the Sixers President, and managing partner Josh Harris, who actually hit a fist pump pre-presser, clearly got their guy.
“Moving On” From a Decade in Boston
Despite the initial shock and frustration, Brown is all business now. He called his 10-year run in Boston a “perfect cycle, perfect number for completion,” adding that they won a championship and he has “nothing but respect for the city.” But that chapter is closed. “Now it’s time to move forward a little bit,” he stated. He wouldn’t elaborate on his past disgruntlement with the Celtics, saying his “mind is so focused on what’s in front of me.” He basically told reporters he’s “moving on” and maybe “one day” he’ll spill the details on how it all went down. It makes sense, right? He got to Boston at 19, developed into a man, even got his degree “in a sense” there. Those relationships and connections, he says, are still there. But his focus is locked on winning with his new “star-studded cast” alongside center Joel Embiid and point guard Tyrese Maxey. The Celtics apparently made the move to create “optionality” and get a “shorter contract on the books.” Now, it’s about seeing what Brown does with this new beginning.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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