Jaylen Brown has been a cornerstone of the Boston Celtics ever since he was selected with the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. Though he helped deliver an NBA championship in the 2023–24 season, the Celtics were unable to repeat this season.
Boston was not only eliminated by the New York Knicks in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. To make things worse, Jayson Tatum suffered a torn Achilles, an injury that may sideline him for the entirety of next season.
With a top-heavy salary cap and a need to reshape the roster, trade rumors have begun to swirl around Brown and other key players. In a recent public appearance, the 2024 Finals MVP made it clear how much Boston means to him.
Jaylen Brown Discusses His Relationship With Boston
During a “741 Performance” event, hosted by Brown’s own performance company, at the Berkshire Partners Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club, the Celtics’ star opened up about his deep connection to the city. The moment was captured on video and posted to Instagram by Boston content creator Mike Deez.
“What does Boston mean to me?” Brown began. “Boston, I look at Boston as like home away from home. I’m not from here, but I’ve been here for almost 10 years now.”
He closed by saying simply: “I’m a Bostonian now.”
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Maybe this video is a subtle reminder to the Celtics’ front office that the four-time NBA All-Star still wants to be a Celtic for the foreseeable future.
In the video, it’s clear that Brown is on crutches from his meniscus surgery. It was reported that he played with a partially torn meniscus late this season. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on June 11, though it is not expected to impact his status for training camp.
Jaylen Brown: A Trade Candidate for Celtics?
With the way that the season ended, and the uncertainty surrounding Boston, there have been rumors that the Celtics could part ways with Derrick White, Kristaps Porziņģis, Jrue Holiday and even Brown, who’s just one year removed from winning the NBA Finals MVP.
On June 19, ESPN insider Shams Charania offered insight into where things stand on Boston’s trade front on “The Pat McAfee Show”.
“I’m sure teams are throwing crazy offers for guys like Jaylen Brown and Derrick White,” Charania told McAfee. “But it will take a pretty insurmountable package to get those guys out of Boston.”
It remains to be seen whether the Celtics will actually move Brown. Given how unpredictable the NBA offseason has become, anything is on the table. Brown would join a growing list of potential stars on the move, alongside names like Kevin Durant and possibly Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Still, based on his recent comments, Brown appears to be embracing Boston and might not be ready to leave just yet.
