Jaylen Brown's Nigeria boxing clip may create awkward problem for 76ers

What the 76ers can actually do about it

The standard NBA Uniform Player Contract carries a prohibited activities clause. Paragraph 12 bars a player from engaging, without the written consent of his team, in any activity a reasonable person would recognize as exposing him to substantial risk of bodily injury, and the examples it lists include "any fighting, boxing, or wrestling." Sky-diving, bungee jumping and mountain biking sit on the same list.

Brown is scheduled to earn $57,078,728 this season, with three years and roughly $183 million left on the five-year supermax he signed with Boston in July 2023. 

Philadelphia sent Paul George, a 2031 first-round pick and additional draft capital to Boston to take that number on, then signed LeBron James, and the roster is being treated as a serious contender to come out of the East. 

The clause becomes relevant only when a player gets hurt away from the floor, which is the entire risk in a bout with no preparation behind it.

Boxing has been in Brown's family for two generations. His father, Marselles Brown, fought as a professional heavyweight and finished 33-18-1. His grandfather, Willie Brown, sparred with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. 

Jaylen Brown trains in Muay Thai, and the gloves keep finding him on trips like this one.

Jaylen Brown told reporters at All-Star media day in February that he had spoken with UFC CEO Dana White about combat sports, and said: "I'd love to partake in something like UFC or even boxing." 

He framed it as a second career, something to take up once basketball was finished. White confirmed at the time that Jaylen Brown had been working on his Muay Thai at the UFC Performance Institute.

The Nigeria clip landed 41 days before opening night, with a starting five in Philadelphia that has not played a competitive game together and last season's 4-0 second-round exit against the New York Knicks still fresh.