Jaylen Brown Claims There’s ‘No Loyalty’ in the NBA Following Trade

Five-time NBA All-Star Jaylen Brown is still processing the Boston Celtics’ recent decision to trade him to the Philadelphia 76ers.

On Thursday, July 9, Brown, 29, shared his thoughts during a live stream with streamer IShowSpeed while they watched the France vs. Morocco World Cup quarterfinal match.

“I just got traded. … They packed me up, bro. It’s a crazy business, bro. Don’t become a basketball player,” he expressed. “There’s no loyalty. There’s no love.”

IShowSpeed, whose real name is Darren Watkins Jr., asked Brown for more details about the situation.

“That’s a real good question,” he responded. “I think a lot of people are curious about that — they’re asking right now. I don’t know. I got packed up. They packed me up, ‘Sayonara chat,’ I’m outta here.”

The Celtics traded Brown to Philadelphia in return for former All-Star Paul George and two second-round draft picks. Team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens informed reporters that this decision aimed to provide the Celtics with greater salary cap flexibility, as Brown and teammate Jayson Tatum accounted for about 70 percent of the cap.

While George, 36, holds an enormous contract as well, his contract runs for one year less than Brown’s. This has led some to speculate there were additional motivations behind Boston’s decision to part ways with Brown.

Instagram users noted that Brown had “liked” a fan’s comment prior to the trade, suggesting the Celtics should send him to a “city who respects him.”

“When something like that happens, it’s not a black-and-white type of situation,” head coach Joe Mazzulla told reporters on Thursday. “What I hope is emphasized more is the respect, appreciation, and gratitude for what he did for the Celtics over 10 years.”

Mazzulla, 38, also acknowledged Brown’s lengthy stay with the Celtics, including an NBA Championship and Finals MVP award in 2024.

“He was a Celtic longer than I have been,” Mazzulla said. “He was here before me, setting the tone and contributing to special moments. He was undoubtedly one of the main reasons for our success. So we should focus more on that: the respect as a competitor and gratitude for his contributions.”

After the trade was finalized, Brown issued a statement expressing his thanks to the city of Boston and its fans.

“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I had with the fans will be with me forever,” he shared. “Saying goodbye isn’t easy after investing your heart into something. I value respect, and actions speak louder than words. To the people of Boston, thank you. To the community I built here, I love you.”