​When the news broke that former Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown would be headed to the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster deal, it felt surreal to much of the NBA world. It wasn’t shocking that he was traded, but the idea that his next team would be a in-division rival of the Celtics surprised many. Since the deal became official on Monday, July 6, the Celtics have understandably been focused on moving forward. Yet before the Green Team acclimates to life without Brown, Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla took the opportunity in Las Vegas on Thursday, ahead of Summer League play, to publicly thank his longtime teammate and express his appreciation.
In remarks about the trade, Mazzulla acknowledged the complexity of a move of this magnitude. “Obviously, when something like that happens, it’s not a black-and-white type of thing; there’s a ton of stuff that goes into it on and off the court,” he said. “The part that I hope gets talked about more, and the part that we’ll 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.”
Brown’s crowning moment came in June 2024 when he earned NBA Finals MVP in front of a jubilant TD Garden crowd. It remains the lone title of his decade-long tenure in Boston, though no trade can erase that achievement. “He was a Celtic longer than I had been here; he was here before me, set the tone, and started that culture, and he was a part of some very special things,” Mazzulla reflected. “He obviously was one of the biggest reasons why we were able to be as successful as we have been.” Alongside star forward Jayson Tatum, Brown helped sustain the Celtics’ winning tradition with consecutive deep playoff runs. The five-time All-Star has never missed the postseason in his professional career, and if the Sixers maintain their core—Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, and rising guard V.J. Edgecombe—their chances of continuing that streak could endure in Philadelphia as well.
For the Celtics, the focus now shifts to themselves and the work required to improve without one of their franchise pillars. “He made me a better coach,” Mazzulla said of Brown, emphasizing the mutual growth they experienced. “I know that for a fact. The way he pushed me, the way he pushed himself, the way he pushed the locker room. He made me a better coach.”
The bond between Tatum and Brown traces back to their Summer League days, hinting that Boston’s next breakout star might emerge in Sin City in the near future. The Summer Celtics begin a five-game slate that will keep their fans intrigued as they navigate the post-Brown era and search for the next chapter of their evolving dynasty in a league that continues to bend around star power and strategic moves.