Jaylen Brown makes first public statement after Celtics trade to 76ers

One of the biggest trades of the NBA offseason so far has been the Boston Celtics bidding farewell to Jaylen Brown and sending the star player to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Talk about a change. Brown was with the Celtics for 10 seasons. Boston drafted him third overall back in 2016, and he helped them win the NBA championship in 2024. He was also the Finals MVP.

So, yes, it was a shocking move, but such is the case with the NBA. The Celtics want to build for the future, and trading Brown, as they saw it, was part of that.

Now, Brown is speaking out for the first time since getting traded. He's thanking the Celtics and the team's fans.

Jaylen Brown breaks silence after Celtics trade to the 76ers

"I'm still processing how this all went down. I'm excited and disappointed at the same time," he said in his post on social media. "I earned my respect from this city."

He added: "I never asked for shortcuts or special treatment. I simply showed up every day, put my head down, and accepted every challenge. Saying goodbye isn't easy when you've invested your heart into something."