Jaylen Brown has finally spoken following his blockbuster move from Boston to Philadelphia, and the new 76ers star admitted the emotions surrounding his departure remain complicated.
After spending nine seasons with the Celtics, Brown was traded to the Sixers in a deal that sent Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round selections to Boston. The trade cannot become official until Monday, but Brown addressed the move publicly on social media.
“I’m still processing how this all went down. I’m excited and disappointed at the same time,” Brown said in a statement Thursday. “I earned my respect from this city. I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge.”
The 29-year-old leaves Boston after one of the strongest seasons of his career. Brown earned Second Team All-NBA honors, finished sixth in MVP voting and averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
His departure comes after weeks of uncertainty surrounding his future. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Boston explored trade discussions involving Brown during its pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo before the former MVP was ultimately dealt to Miami.
Despite the sudden ending, Brown made it clear that his connection to Boston remains strong.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” JB acknowledged.
“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me.”
Brown helped deliver Boston’s 18th NBA championship and was named both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP during the title run. He leaves the franchise as a five-time All-Star and one of the defining players of the Celtics’ recent era.
Before turning his attention to Philadelphia, Brown offered one final message to the city that drafted him.
“I’m big on respect and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you.”
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