Ben Stiller is a Knicks superfan. So when he sees something that breaks the Celtics, he knows it. And he thinks he can pinpoint the exact moment Boston cracked.
It came in the 2025 Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Knicks were down late in Game 4. They stormed back and took a one-point lead. Then Mikal Bridges sealed it by stealing the ball from Jayson Tatum. A fan posted that clip online with the caption, “The moment the Knicks broke the Celtics.” Stiller replied with two words: “Seems like it.”
That playoff loss clearly stuck with Boston. The Celtics went on to trade Jaylen Brown this summer. And people noticed.
Jaylen Brown’s Shocking Exit to Philly
The Celtics shipped Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers. Yes. The same team that knocked them out of the playoffs. In return, Boston got Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. It was a lot. But the move still stunned the league.
Brown was the No. 3 overall pick in 2016. He spent a decade with the Celtics. He helped them reach the Eastern Conference Finals six times. He won Finals MVP when they won the title in 2024. And last season, he put up career highs: 28.7 points per game and 5.1 assists. He matched his best on rebounds too with 6.9 a night.
So why trade a guy having his best season? The 2025 playoff exit might have changed how Boston saw things. The Knicks beat them in six games. New York went on to lose to the Pacers in the conference finals. But last year the Knicks ran through the East. They went 12-2 through the first three rounds and beat the Spurs in five games to win the title. Meanwhile the Celtics are already remaking their roster.
Stiller’s instincts might be right. That steal by Bridges wasn’t just a win. It may have been the moment Boston started letting go of its franchise cornerstone.
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