Jaylen Brown Reveals What His Immediate Reaction Was to Celtics-76ers Trade
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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Last month, the ongoing speculation involving Jaylen Brown ended as the Boston Celtics traded the former NBA Finals MVP to their division rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers .
It was a stunning move due to many feeling the Celtics didn't get any better through the deal, as they received nine-time All-Star Paul George and multiple future draft picks. The trade disbanded a solid roster of players in Boston that featured Jayson Tatum returning from injury and All-NBA First Defensive Team member Derrick White.
For Brown, learning that he was traded from the team that drafted him in 2016 and that he helped reach the playoffs multiple times and win a championship in 2024 was upsetting. The five-time NBA All-Star revealed his initial reaction during the 76ers' introductory press conference on Thursday.
"Who was the first one. I'm not even sure," Brown said when asked which 76ers teammates reached out after the trade. "When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room."
Brown previously revealed on a live stream that he felt "disrespected" by his previous team throughout this deal, but also that he felt more motivated to win and to be able to learn from his new teammates in Philly.
"I think [Tyrese] Maxey reached out to me first. He reached out and was like, 'I know it's a lot of stuff going on right now, but we excited to have you,'" and stuff like that," he shared. "Maxey and VJ [Edgecombe] was probably around the same time."
Brown said the 76ers players have a lot of talks through group chats nearly "every damn day" since he was traded to the team. That includes LeBron James, whom the team signed in free agency towards the end of July, making for a super team in Philadelphia.
"We all trying to figure this thing out. We just trying to gall get on the same page. I think everybody knows how incredible the opportunity is that we have, but we also gotta put in the work," he said.
Brown's comments at his introductory press conference arrive soon after new photos hit the internet showing a slimmed-down Joel Embiid in the gym with Edgecombe. Fans immediately praised the new-look Embiid ahead of his first season with the new-look 76ers starting lineup.
Figuring things out is going to be the key for the starting five, as there are four players in there who averaged 20-plus points or more a game last season. According to Edgecombe, they don't have egos and will be able to coexist, but it remains to be seen how well the collective talents gel in the same lineup.
As of right now, the lineup looks stacked on paper and seems capable of winning the Eastern Conference, but a lot will depend on the players' ability to work together and stay healthy through the grind of an 82-game season, and into the postseason.
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