​Not many would fault Jaylen Brown for wanting to hurry away from a city he has invested so much in, both on the court and in the community, only to watch the team he helped shape trade him to a rival division foe. Yet after the Boston Celtics sent the Georgia native to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that included Paul George and other draft assets last week, Brown signaled clearly that he intended to keep honoring his local commitments to the fans and the broader Boston community. He spoke about those commitments and the trade at a recent event at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, July 7.
“I want to say there’s nothing to be sad about,” Brown told local broadcaster WBZ in a recent interview. “There are a lot of opportunities that I will still be able to fulfill here.” He also spoke about his fans, saying, “I hope they can follow me on my journey. I get that things didn’t end in the way that made sense … I’m still trying to make sense of it. I’m still processing it … I’m just grateful to have an opportunity, and I’m grateful for the families who have allowed me to come into their community and get involved and try to find solutions.”
Brown has had remarkable experiences in Boston and spoke about the city’s unique blend of attributes. He noted that Boston has been a great fit not only because of the sports culture but also because of the influence and the resources available in the region. He acknowledged that Boston faces its share of challenges, yet emphasized that those same challenges coexist with substantial resources that can be mobilized for positive impact.
“So being able to bridge those gaps, connecting the resources here in Boston to the people who can benefit from them—my family and I have spent a lot of time here, and it’s something we want to contribute to rather than use as a complaint or a detriment to the community,” Brown said. “Since we’ve been here, we’ve always tried to add value. Community is something that our family represents. It’s the legacy we want to leave behind. Building that greater sense of community in Boston and now extending it to Philadelphia is important to us.”
He expressed gratitude for the support of families who have welcomed him and his family, allowing him to become involved, build connections, and help develop resources and solutions. “I’m very grateful that the community has trusted me to do that—and I plan on continuing it,” Brown asserted.
Brown’s remarks, delivered at an MIT gathering, underscored his commitment to public service and community advancement beyond the NBA courts. He framed his move to Philadelphia not as an abandonment of his Boston responsibilities but as a continuation of a broader mission: to leverage his platform to create tangible, enduring benefits for families and neighborhoods wherever he plays. He emphasized that his work with Boston’s communities would persist and perhaps expand in new directions while maintaining the ties that drew him to the city in the first place.
The scene at MIT illustrated Brown’s intention to blend his professional life with his dedication to civic engagement. He spoke candidly about the trade but framed it within a forward-looking mindset—one that envisions continued outreach, partnerships, and solutions that help bridges gaps between the resources available in major urban centers and the people who stand to benefit from them. Brown’s perspective reflects a broader trend among athletes who see community work as central to their identity and legacy, not merely as a side note to their on-court performance.
As Brown moves into a new chapter with the 76ers, he remains mindful of the roots that marked his time in Boston. He reiterated his gratitude for the communities that embraced him and his family, and he pledged to sustain the momentum of their collective efforts—whether through youth programs, mentorship, charitable initiatives, or collaborations that enhance access to essential resources. In doing so, he aims to ensure that his journey, wherever it takes him, continues to leave behind a meaningful and positive imprint on the people who supported him from day one.