​Rephrased: Nick Nurse, the 76ers’ head coach, speaks frankly about finally adding Jaylen Brown to Philadelphia after the Celtics era. The Sporting News notes this development, and you can mark The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here. The longstanding rivalry between the Boston Celtics and the Philadelphia 76ers transcends the NBA itself. Historically, these two storied franchises and their fan bases have despised each other, making high-stakes trades between them exceedingly rare. When moves do occur, boundaries often blur, crossing into territory that some might deem in poor taste. Brown joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey represents one of the most noteworthy examples of that dynamic. Nurse is thrilled with how the trade unfolded, yet he remains acutely aware of the burden such a move carries.
The 2025-26 season proved to be a tumultuous chapter in the Celtics-76ers saga. Nurse guided his team to win two of their three regular-season matchups against Boston, but those wins came during a period when Jaylen Brown was without Jayson Tatum, his usual running mate. After Tatum returned from an Achilles injury, the Celtics appeared ready to reclaim their rhythm. The Sixers, however, faced the real possibility of being swept in the opening round of the playoffs, only to see momentum shift in their favor. For the first time in 44 years, Philadelphia fought back from a 3-1 deficit, riding the performances of Embiid and Maxey to topple a struggling Celtics squad and advance.
With Brown now a Sixer, Nurse says Philadelphia can stop worrying about Boston’s ability to block their path to an NBA title. He shared his exuberance for the blockbuster acquisition in a conversation with Tony Jones of The Athletic. “My first thoughts are that I’ve had a lot of battles against him. You watch him get a lot better from year to year and how much harder it became to game plan for him and things like that. He’s won a lot. Obviously, he’s won a title and a Finals MVP. I think he’s a two-way player, and I think he’s versatile. I think he’s right there, sitting in his prime. It’s amazing that he’s a Sixer,” Nurse said.
What makes this acquisition particularly timely is Brown’s recent form. He finished sixth in MVP voting last season, underscoring the level of talent Philadelphia is adding to an already star-studded roster that features Embiid, Maxey, and developing talents like VJ Edgecombe and Labaron Philon. Even if questions linger about how Brown fits with a loaded lineup, the reality remains that Boston appears diminished without him, and Nurse can take some satisfaction in that fact as he orchestrates the Sixers’ championship aspirations.