PHILADELPHIA — NBA star Jaylen Brown says he is still trying to make sense of the trade that will take him away from the Boston Celtics and deliver him to one of the franchise’s biggest rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers.
Brown — who won the 2024 NBA Finals MVP award, earned five All-Star selections, and ranked fourth in the league in scoring this past season — is headed to Philadelphia as part of a deal confirmed Wednesday by a person familiar with the agreement’s terms.
In exchange for Brown, Boston will receive Paul George along with a collection of draft picks that could amount to two first-round selections and two second-round picks. The person who confirmed the deal spoke to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, noting that the trade has not yet received the required approval from the league.
Brown took to social media Thursday to share his thoughts on the move. “I’m still processing how this all went down,” he wrote. “I’m excited and disappointed at the same time. 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.”
He continued: “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.”
This past season placed an enormous burden on Brown after teammate Jayson Tatum missed the majority of the year recovering from an Achilles tendon tear he suffered during the 2025 playoffs. Brown responded by posting the best statistical numbers of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
Despite those impressive numbers, reports suggest Brown felt undervalued in Boston — particularly after it came to light that the Celtics had included him in trade discussions with Milwaukee when Giannis Antetokounmpo was available on the market.
“Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something,” Brown wrote in his post.
For Philadelphia, the acquisition gives two-time NBA scoring champion Joel Embiid another elite star alongside him. The Sixers also feature All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey and second-year standout VJ Edgecombe as core pieces of their roster. The deal was engineered by new team president of basketball operations Mike Gansey, who pulled it off within his first month in that role.
Brown closed his message on an upbeat note, looking ahead to his new chapter. “I’m excited for what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to join Philadelphia,” he 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.”
He signed off with a direct message to his new fan base: “Philly — throw the ball up let’s get it!”
