When Jayson Tatum returned to the Boston Celtics last season after completing his rehab, seeing him back on the court with Jaylen Brown meant a lot to Celtics fans. The duo had built a strong connection over the years, and even though Boston was eliminated in the first round, their partnership still looked promising.
That is why the news in early July that Brown was being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers stunned many people. Now, Brown has revealed what he thinks about whether the Celtics made a mistake.
Jaylen Brown’s Subtle Warning to the Boston Celtics
Brown appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on Thursday, where he was asked by guest host Anthony Anderson if he thought the Celtics made a mistake by trading him to Philadelphia.
Instead of giving a long answer, Brown indirectly suggested that people would not have to wait long to find out.
“I was a little disappointed in how all went down. But, I mean, to answer your question is, I guess, we’ll find out,” Brown said during the interview.
For Brown, the trade was not an easy move to process. The Celtics sent him to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks in 2028 and 2031, and two second-round picks.
After the trade became official, Brown admitted that he was still processing what had happened.
“I’m still processing how this all went down. 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.”
“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 wrote on social media.
It is easy to understand why. Brown joined Boston after the Celtics selected him with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. He then spent 10 seasons with the organization and also helped them win a title in 2024.
His role became even bigger during the 2025-26 season. With Tatum sidelined because of an Achilles injury, Brown became Boston’s primary option. He helped the Celtics finish with a 56-26 record while averaging career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
So, being traded after everything he had built in Boston was bound to hurt. Now, Brown has a new opportunity in Philadelphia.
Brown will join a roster featuring Joel Embiid, LeBron James, and Tyrese Maxey, giving him another group of stars to play alongside. Rather than spending time arguing about whether Boston made the right decision, he can answer that question on the court.
