Jaylen Brown didn’t just answer the questions after the 76ers’ win over the Pacers. He shut them down.
Following Philadelphia’s 114-109 victory on Wednesday night, Brown addressed the report that he had delivered the Celtics an ultimatum this summer, telling the team to meet his demands or trade him. Brown made clear he wanted no part of that story sticking to him.
“I guess it is what it is. I saw that; I saw Scal has made some comments.
I don’t have any issue with Scal; I love Scal. He’s doing what he has to do; I understand why he feels the need to do that,” Jaylen Brown said.
He didn’t stop there.
“But I have no interest in letting any false allegations follow me to my next chapter here in Philadelphia. I never demanded a trade; I never made a list of ultimatums of any sort. None of that is true,” he added.
Brown said he’s moving forward with his attention locked on the 76ers.
“As of now, I’m focused on what’s in front of me here in Philadelphia. I’ve got a tremendous opportunity, and I’m looking forward to that. I’m just going to leave those questions for another time; for the season, I’m just focused on what’s in front of me,” Jaylen Brown concluded.
The comments were aimed at former NBA player Brian Scalabrine, who had previously said Brown went to the Celtics front office with an ultimatum: meet his demands or trade him. Scalabrine later walked back those remarks on live television, but that didn’t end the noise. As a Celtics broadcaster for NBC Boston, he still took shots afterward, accusing Brown of playing the victim card and pointing out during last night’s live broadcast that Brown led the league in turnovers last season.
Brown, meanwhile, has tried to keep the focus elsewhere. He wants to move past the negative baggage tied to his former team, including his beef with Jayson Tatum, and stay locked in on his on-court work.
Against Indiana, he delivered a strong all-around night. Brown finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, shooting 7-for-13 from the field and 1-for-3 from beyond the arc.
The game itself had plenty of drama. The 76ers gave up a 15-point first-half lead, then watched the Pacers lose a 13-point fourth-quarter advantage before Philadelphia closed the door late.
With the win, the 76ers improved to 4-1 and will next face the Knicks on Friday, October 30.
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