Jaylen Brown disappointed with the Celtics: “They packed me up and shipped me out”
Disappointed but motivated, Jaylen Brown hasn’t forgiven the way the Celtics sent him to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George
With a roster that looks like an All-Star team, strengthened by the arrivals of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown alongside Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the Philadelphia 76ers will enter the new season carrying all the attention – and expectations – that come with it.
But if there’s one player ready to turn the doubts and offseason criticism into fuel, it’s Jaylen Brown.
After spending 10 seasons as a cornerstone of the Boston Celtics, highlighted by an NBA championship and the 2024 Finals MVP award, the 1996-born guard was forced to pack his bags for Boston’s historic rival in a trade that sent Paul George and draft picks to Massachusetts.
It was a departure handled with little ceremony, leaving a deep wound for the player. Speaking during a Twitch livestream hosted by streamer Ahmed, Brown spoke candidly about the way Celtics general manager Brad Stevens handled his exit:
They packed me up and shipped me out, man. ‘Pack your bags, sayonara, buddy. Get out of here.’ That’s how it went. I’m still processing everything. It’s a mix of disappointment, excitement and conflicting emotions. But all of that disrespect just gives me even more motivation to get on the court and win
Jaylen Brown
What stings the most is the contrast between Brown’s public love for the city – he had recently said he wanted to wear the green jersey for another 10 years – and the cold way the Celtics front office first turned him into a trade chip in a failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo, before ultimately making him the centerpiece of the deal with the 76ers.
As if that weren’t enough, his departure was accompanied by subtle leaks surrounding the situation in Boston, where some media outlets and figures close to the front office quietly criticized Brown’s alleged belief that he wanted to be “the smartest guy in the room”, suggesting it was one of the factors behind the growing divide.
Ironically, the trade became official just weeks after the Celtics suffered a crushing first-round playoff elimination at the hands of Philadelphia, which rallied from a 3-1 series deficit.
Now Brown finds himself on the same side as the team that knocked him out, ready to serve the coldest form of revenge possible against his former franchise – perhaps in a playoff series, perhaps with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.