Jaylen Brown broke his silence Thursday after the Boston Celtics reportedly traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in one of the most stunning moves of the NBA offseason so far.
"I'm still processing how this all went down. I'm excited and disappointed at the same time," Brown wrote on social media. "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 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. Saying goodbye isn't easy when you've invested your heart into something."
With Brown's tenure in Boston now over, he's looking forward to beginning the next chapter of his career in Philadelphia.
"I'm excited for what's ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia," Brown wrote. "Every city has its own identity, its own passion, and its own expectation. I respect that, and I'm looking forward to earning that respect the only way I know how - through the work."
Brown enjoyed the best campaign of his 10-year career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 boards, 5.1 assists, and one steal across 71 appearances. The five-time All-Star's strong play helped the Celtics earn the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed despite not having Jayson Tatum for most of the 2025-26 campaign.
But Boston's front office reportedly put Brown on the table in its trade proposal for ex-Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Celtics continued to shop Brown despite the Bucks shipping Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat.
Boston's offseason approach reportedly frustrated Brown after his standout campaign, but the 6-foot-6 wing never requested a trade, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.
The Celtics eventually dealt the 2024 Finals MVP to the 76ers for Paul George, two first-round draft picks (2028, 2031), and a pair of second-rounders (2028, 2030).
