Jaylen Brown isn’t interested in letting the Boston trade chatter follow him into Philadelphia.
After the 76ers’ 114-109 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, Brown responded directly to Brian Scalabrine’s report that he had demanded a trade from the Celtics before landing with the 76ers. Brown pushed back hard, making clear he wants the focus on what comes next, not on claims he says are false.
“I never had any issues with Scal,” Brown said. “I love Scal, but I guess he's doing what he has to do. I can understand why he feels the need to do that, but I have no interest in letting any false allegations follow me into my next chapter here in Philadelphia.”
Scalabrine’s comments sparked plenty of criticism, and he later softened his position, saying Brown had not technically demanded a trade. What Scalabrine alleged was that Brown presented the Celtics with a set of demands and left the team with a choice: meet them or move him.
Brown’s move to Philadelphia closed the book on a long run in Boston. He spent nine seasons with the Celtics, helped them reach two NBA Finals, and won the 2024 championship with Jayson Tatum. That partnership had been one of the franchise’s defining successes in recent years.
Boston’s path to dealing Brown also came after an offseason that included exploration of a possible trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo, though that never happened. Brown ultimately became part of a package that sent him to Philadelphia in exchange for Paul George and draft assets.
On the floor, Brown has wasted no time settling in. He helped the 76ers improve to 4-1 with another strong performance Wednesday, finishing with 20 points, 10 rebounds and two assists.
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