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.
In Other News...
Pacers Suddenly Have A Tyrese Haliburton Problem Before 76ers Game
The Pacers injury report is suddenly carrying more weight than usual ahead of their matchup with the 76ers, and Tyrese Haliburton is right at the center of it. Indiana listed the star guard as questionable with left hamstring tightness, a development that matters even more as the team tries to build momentum after a rough previous season and continues working Haliburton back into form following his torn Achilles.
Indiana is also dealing with several other injury concerns, leaving the rotation a little more unsettled than the matchup on paper might suggest. Philadelphia, by comparison, has a shorter list of absences with four players unavailable, so the Pacers may have to manage both the game plan and the roster picture at once before they even get to tipoff. [Read more 🡒]
Tyrese Haliburtons Absence Leaves Pacers Facing A Brutal Early Test
Tyrese Haliburtons left hamstring strain has put the Pacers in an early-season bind, and the bigger issue right now is the uncertainty around how long theyll have to navigate without their offensive engine. Haliburton, who signed a five-year extension in 2023, has been driving Indianas attack again this season, averaging 21.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists while setting the pace for everything the team wants to do.
Indiana is already dealing with another major absence, with center Ivica Zubac sidelined by a left ankle injury, which only raises the degree of difficulty for a group trying to stay afloat while key pieces heal. For the Pacers, the challenge is not just replacing production, but reworking the rhythm of a team built around Haliburtons playmaking while waiting for a clearer picture on his return. [Read more 🡒]
Pascal Siakam Had Pacers Fans Cracking Up With His Rick Carlisle Tribute
Pascal Siakam gave Pacers fans a quick laugh during a recent press conference by arriving in costume as Rick Carlisle, channeling the coach in a nod to one of Carlisles most memorable media moments from his days with the Mavericks. Siakam even taped his mouth shut to mimic Carlisles famous reaction to questions about officiating after a playoff game, turning a routine interview setting into a bit of basketball theater.
For Indiana, it was the kind of lighthearted scene that can travel fast in a season still finding its footing, with the Pacers sitting at 2-2. It also underscored how quickly Siakam has settled into the teams orbit, comfortable enough to poke fun at his coach while giving the fan base something to enjoy beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]