One of the first things Brad Stevens talked about Monday when he addressed the media for the first time since the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers was the impact Brown made off the court.
“You know, when Jaylen came here as a 19-year-old, we knew that he had a lot of talent and a lot of ability to impact people in a lot of different ways,” said Stevens, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations. “And he certainly did that by inspiring people with his play. But I think maybe more so — and the thing that certainly always impressed me even more — was taking on the responsibility of being a great Boston athlete in the community.”
That impact is being especially felt now that Brown will leave Boston, his home for 10 seasons.
The Celtics’ lead owner, Bill Chisholm, said the decision to trade Brown wasn’t a mandate from on high to ease up money pressure on the team.
“We have the best front office in the NBA. And they put in their work and they came to the conclusion this was the best way for us to win,” he said. “And that’s the mandate, is to win.”
Brown’s basketball resume is self-explanatory: He’s a five-time All-Star who was instrumental in leading the Celtics to an NBA championship in 2024. He was that year’s Finals MVP.
But beyond basketball, Brown is as equally recognized for his deep commitment to social justice, economic empowerment and educational equity.
His endeavors include Boston XChange, an initiative he described as an effort to attack the wealth disparity in the city.
Other initiatives include the 7uice Foundation and the Bridge Program with MIT Media Lab.
Andrea Swain, chief impact officer at the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, said Brown’s work with her organization is unmatched among any other Celtics player she’s worked with.
“In terms of the impact, the consistency over the 10 years, showing up — no one has done it like Jaylen,” she said.
Swain said when Brown would come visit the Boys and Girls Club of Boston — which was often — he would do it without fanfare.
“His security would say, ‘Jaylen’s coming through the back door.’ He would just come in and just spend time with the kids,” she said. “‘Where are you, how are you doing in school, what’s going on in your life? Let me show you how to shoot this ball.’ It was very organic.”
In a statement posted after the trade, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu thanked Brown for “shifting the energy.”
“We won’t forget the looks on young players’ faces as you pulled up unannounced to tournaments in the park, or the excitement of Dorchester neighbors painting a beautiful new neighborhood court alongside you, or the hope and determination of entrepreneurs and students reaching for their dreams through the opportunities you made possible,” Wu’s post read. “Because of your example, kids in Boston know that faith, consistency, hard work pays off.”
She said that Brown never stopped showing up for Boston and that the city loves him.
Brown’s influence off the court in the city is expected to continue. In a statement, Brown’s 7uice Foundation said that the city will always hold a special place in their hearts.
“We want our partners, participants and the entire Boston community to know this: our work is not ending,” the statement read. “If anything, our responsibility to continue serving this city has only gotten stronger.”
For the Celtics, the move gives the team options going forward while still allowing it to field a good group of players. But that didn’t make the move easy.
“As Jaylen and I sat down in early June and we talked about a potential future in Boston or elsewhere, I told him that if we were ever to trade Jaylen, that would be a really sad day for me personally,” Stevens said.
In a statement posted on social media, Brown said he earned his respect from Boston.
“The relationships I built here, the battles we fought together, the championship we brought to this city, and the connection I shared with the fans, I’ll carry on with me,” Brown wrote. “Saying goodbye isn’t easy when you’ve invested your heart into something.”
