The Boston Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, and the deal still doesn’t add up. Not then. Not now.
It started when Giannis Antetokounmpo was made available. Boston kicked the tires hard. When that fell through, Brown stayed on the block. The Celtics originally wanted four or five first-round picks for him. Instead they settled for two firsts, two seconds, and Paul George. George is past his prime and dealing with injuries. That’s a long way down from a guy who finished fourth in the league in scoring during his best season.
To make it worse, Philly is a division rival. The same team that just bounced Boston from the first round of the playoffs. The Celtics essentially decided Brown had to go, no matter what came back. That decision looks worse every time you remember what he did for the franchise since they took him third overall in 2016. Here are five moments that explain why.
5. The Luka Ankle Breaker
January 2024 against the Mavericks. Brown had Luka Doncic guarding him on the wing. He went behind his back, and Doncic hit the floor. Hard. One of the cleanest ankle breakers in recent years. Brown hit the fadeaway jumper to finish the play. And yeah, it was a preview. A few months later, the Celtics won the NBA Finals over Dallas, partly because Brown kept attacking Doncic on defense.
4. Two 50-Point Games
Only three players in Celtics history have multiple 50-point games. Larry Bird. Jayson Tatum. And Jaylen Brown. He dropped 50 in January 2022, then did it again in the season before he left. That second one was an 18-for-26 shooting night. It felt like a statement. Brown had been the 1B to Tatum’s 1A for years, but on that night he looked like a clear first option. He can score from three levels. Mid-range, three-point line, and finishing through contact.
3. The Double Bang Forced Overtime
Mike Breen says “double bang” maybe a few times a season. Brown got one in Game 1 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals. Celtics down three with seconds left. Brown caught the inbound in the corner. Pascal Siakam closed too fast, so Brown pump faked and threw up an off-balance three. It went in. Overtime. Boston won.
2. NBA Finals MVP
The 2024 title was Boston’s 18th. It broke the tie with the Lakers for most championships in NBA history. Brown didn’t just get a ring. He got the Bill Russell Finals MVP. Most people thought Tatum was the best player on the team, but Tatum struggled in the playoffs that year. Brown didn’t. He averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game while playing lockdown defense. That trophy locks him into Celtics history forever.
1. The Gravedigger
Brown earned that nickname. He buried teams in big moments. He showed up when the lights were brightest. And now he’s wearing a Sixers jersey. The Celtics gave up a guy who was their second-best player and arguably their best defender in the finals for a package that felt light the day it was announced. That feeling hasn’t gotten better.
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