While discussing Jaylen Brown’s departure from Boston, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said the focus should remain on everything the former All-Star accomplished during his decade with the franchise.
The coach praised Brown’s leadership and competitiveness, saying his impact extended well beyond the basketball court.
“The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we really want to focus on the most, is really just the respect, the appreciation and the gratitude for what he did for the Celtics for 10 years,” said Mazzulla.
“He was a Celtic longer than I have been. He was here before me. He set the tone and started that, and was a part of special things, and continued that, and obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been. So that to me is what we have to focus on more: The respect as a competitor and the gratitude for what he’s done.”
Jaylen Brown also addressed the trade publicly during a livestream with IShowSpeed while watching the World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco.
“I just got traded. … They packed me up, bro. It’s a crazy business, bro. Don’t become a basketball player,” said Brown. “There’s no loyalty. There’s no love.”
The player leaves Boston after one of the best seasons of his career. He finished sixth in NBA MVP voting after averaging career highs of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
During his 10 seasons with the Celtics, Brown helped the franchise reach the playoffs every year, advancing to six Eastern Conference Finals, two NBA Finals, and capturing the 2024 NBA championship.
Celtics president Brad Stevens said salary cap flexibility was a major factor behind the trade, noting that Paul George’s contract runs one year shorter than Brown’s while carrying a similar salary.
Joe Mazzulla Still 'Processing' Celtics' Trade Of Jaylen Brown To 76ers https://t.co/LWfjSPGgHV
— RealGM (@RealGM) July 10, 2026
