Anshari Taslim
Philadelphia, PA – More than a month after the Boston Celtics executed a stunning trade that sent All-Star forward Jaylen Brown to their long-standing rivals, the Philadelphia 76ers, Brown made his first formal public appearance as a member of his new team. The trade, which reshaped the Eastern Conference landscape, had kept Brown out of the media spotlight as he engaged in a critical initial task for Philadelphia: the successful recruitment of four-time NBA champion LeBron James. Following several weeks of discreet negotiations and communication, Brown and the 76ers secured a commitment from James, widely considered one of the greatest players in basketball history.
With the primary components of the roster now assembled for the upcoming season, the 76ers organization commenced the formal introduction of their new acquisitions. While James is anticipated to speak with the media closer to the team’s official media day, Brown addressed journalists at a press conference in Philadelphia on Thursday, July 27, offering insights into his departure from Boston, his relationships with former and current teammates, and his aspirations for the 76ers.
Brown Addresses Celtics Exit and Tatum Relationship
For the past year, speculation had mounted regarding the dynamic between Brown and his former Boston Celtics co-star, Jayson Tatum. These questions intensified after Brown’s career-best season, during which Tatum was sidelined for a significant portion due to recovery from a torn Achilles tendon. Following the Celtics’ first-round playoff elimination by the very same 76ers, Brown had notably referred to the 2025-26 campaign as his "favorite year" of his career, a comment that fueled further conjecture about his relationship with Tatum and his role within the Celtics franchise.
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During Thursday’s press conference, Brown was directly questioned about his relationship with Tatum, acknowledging a recent lack of communication between the two. "We won a championship together," Brown stated, referring to the 2024 NBA title the duo secured. "Anybody that you win a championship with, you would think, like, that’s what a brotherhood or a lifelong legacy would entail. Obviously, there’s ups and downs in any type of relationship. But on my end, there’s nothing but respect. Besides when he plays the Sixers, I hope he does well. Other than that, everything from me is based in respect."
When pressed on whether they had spoken since the trade, Brown offered a terse response: "Not really."
Brown has previously indicated a level of disappointment with the Celtics’ handling of his exit. Reports throughout the past year frequently linked Brown to various trade scenarios, most notably in discussions centered around Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, before he was ultimately moved to Philadelphia. When asked specifically what aspects of "how this transpired" bothered him, Brown responded broadly, "The whole process."
Despite the widespread speculation surrounding the Celtics’ motivations for trading him, Brown chose not to elaborate on specific details. He emphasized his gratitude for his overall experience in Boston, acknowledging the "lot of speculation" but stating he felt "no need to chime in on it because I’m focused on what’s in front of me."
"I’m very grateful for my experience, my tenure in Boston," Brown reflected. "Ten years is a perfect cycle, perfect number for completion. We won a championship and I have nothing but respect for the city of Boston. But now it’s time to move forward." Brown, who was the third overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, spent ten seasons with the Celtics, evolving from a raw prospect into a two-way All-Star. His departure marked the end of an era for the Celtics, who had built their core around him and Tatum.
Whose Team Is It? ‘Whatever It Takes’
Prior to his move to Philadelphia, a recurring theme in discussions surrounding Brown’s offseason was whether he would finally secure a role as the undisputed centerpiece of a franchise. His arrival in Philadelphia, however, places him within a constellation of established stars, a scenario far removed from leading his "own" team.
The current 76ers roster boasts an unprecedented accumulation of talent. LeBron James, at 42 years old, brings a record four NBA championships and four MVP awards. Joel Embiid, the reigning MVP, has averaged over 30 points and 10 rebounds in each of the last two seasons, anchoring the team’s interior presence. Tyrese Maxey, a rapidly ascending guard, earned his first All-Star selection last season by averaging 25.9 points and 6.2 assists per game. The addition of rookie VJ Edgecombe, a highly touted prospect, further enhances the team’s depth in ball-handling and scoring. This collective firepower positions the 76ers with a concentration of offensive talent rarely seen in NBA history.
Addressing the "whose team is it" premise, Brown dismissed the notion entirely. "It doesn’t have to be anybody’s team," he asserted. He highlighted "respect and work" as the fundamental keys to success for the star-laden roster.
"It’s a lot guys with talent and egos," Brown explained. "But to win, you got to be able to sacrifice and have trust and communication. I want to come in transparent and with my agenda on the table. ‘Look, this is what I’m here to do, this is what I want to do. I want to win.’ And we can figure out how to respectfully move around each other. It takes a level of time to develop and earn respect from each other. My approach has been my work ethic – being the first to the gym, being in the film room. I’m looking forward to learning from LeBron and from all those guys. With LeBron, everything he’s endured during his career… one of my favorite things to do is learn. I can’t wait to soak up as much information as I can and apply it to myself."
The concept of sacrifice will manifest differently for each player. A reduction in individual shot attempts is an almost certainty for every primary scorer. For Brown, this could translate into an even greater emphasis on his defensive responsibilities. Given James’s age, Embiid’s history of lower-body injuries potentially impacting his lateral mobility, and Maxey’s smaller stature, Brown’s elite two-way capabilities will be crucial. He is already recognized as an adept on-ball defender, but his role will likely expand to cover multiple positions and consistently anchor the team’s perimeter defense. If Brown can maintain high-level defense, minimize turnovers, and select high-percentage shots, he will fulfill his part of the bargain for a team with championship aspirations.
"My focus is winning," Brown declared. "Other people’s focus may be scoring. My focus is going into every practice, every meeting, every shootaround, every film session is, ‘How do we win night in and night out?’ Sometimes that may change. Sometimes that may look different. Whatever it takes. At this point in my career, nothing else really moves me. The only thing that’s going to move me is doing something collectively – a championship. All the other stuff is just a distraction to me."
Brown’s Relationship with Joel Embiid and New Teammates
Brown’s previous interactions with Joel Embiid, particularly following the Celtics’ first-round playoff loss to the 76ers in May 2026, had been contentious. During a Twitch stream shortly after the series, Brown openly criticized Embiid for what he perceived as flopping. "I mean, this is my personal opinion on basketball. Some of y’all might disagree, you know what I mean? But argue with your grandma. Flopping has ruined our game," Brown stated at the time. "Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops. He knows it. This ain’t breaking news."
In that playoff series, while Embiid’s free-throw attempts were generally consistent with his regular-season averages, Brown himself was whistled for several offensive fouls, often for using his off-arm to create space. He also publicly voiced frustration with referees, suggesting they held an "agenda" against him.
However, any lingering animosity appeared absent from Thursday’s press conference. Brown indicated a pre-existing friendly relationship with Embiid, revealing they spoke on the day the trade was announced. "Joel, it’s been good. Me and Joel have been friends throughout the years. Have mutual respect," Brown said. "I know he loves soccer. I love soccer. So we talk about that a lot, and stuff like that. He reached out when I got traded, he reached out the same day and I talked to him on the phone."
Brown also noted that Maxey and Edgecombe were among the first of his new teammates to contact him. He humorously admitted, however, that he initially preferred a temporary reprieve from the immediate influx of communications. "When I first got traded, I just threw my phone across the room," Brown recounted with a laugh.
76ers Look Good ‘On Paper,’ But Can’t ‘Skip Steps’
Since the trade and the subsequent acquisition of LeBron James, Brown indicated consistent communication with his new teammates. He specifically highlighted James’s active participation in their collective group chat, stating, "We talk damn near every day," and singling out James as being "active."
"We’re just trying to all get on the same page," Brown emphasized. "I think everybody knows how incredible the opportunity that we have is, but we also got to put in the work. My focus is on that."
With the roster meticulously assembled by new President of Basketball Operations Mike Gansey and the 76ers front office, the team is now widely regarded as a primary contender for the NBA championship in the upcoming season. Sports analysts and oddsmakers have positioned Philadelphia among the favorites, a significant shift in expectations. Brown acknowledged the talent assembled and the formidable appearance of the roster "on paper" but stressed that this alone would not guarantee success.
"Obviously, on paper, we’re excellent. We have a lot of talent. What you have on paper doesn’t really mean nothing. It can if you put the work in, but if you allow distractions to get into your locker room, it can be a detriment," Brown cautioned. "I’m aware it can go either way. It takes work and transparency and leadership can really guide this thing or not. On paper, we look great, but let’s slow down. It takes real work every day to make something like this happen. I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to doing whatever I need to do to make sure we get on the same page and focused on the same thing. If we do that, then we’ll be where we need to be."
Brown’s introduction marked a pivotal moment for the 76ers, officially ushering in an era of heightened expectations and a new "superteam" dynamic. The challenges of integrating multiple high-usage stars, managing egos, and navigating the rigors of an NBA season will test the collective resolve of the new-look 76ers.
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