Jaylen Brown came to Boston in 2016 as a raw lottery pick out of California; he leaves a decade later, following a stunning trade to Philadelphia, as an NBA champion and an essential piece of the city’s social fabric.
“What this trade does is show young fans what sports heartbreak is,” Celtics superfan Chris Soldani told the Herald. “There is now a huge void, and a lot of people don’t know how to process this situation.”
Look no further than Randolph for proof. Immediately after learning about the trade, 6-year-old Giovanni “Gio” Jean cried uncontrollably while wearing a No. 7 Celtics jersey autographed by Brown.
His mother, Gigi Durand, captured the moment on video as Gio sobbed, “You are my favorite player in the whole NBA.” Holding up a handmade sign pleading for his idol to “come back one day,” the youngster asked his mother to mail it.
The footage went viral, racking up over 10 million views and drawing a direct response from Brown: “It’s ok lil bro,” he posted, adding a heart emoji. “We will always be friends.”
That instinct to connect directly with the fan base is exactly what drew superfans like Soldani to Brown.
In early May, Brown invited Soldani — known as “Caveman on Causeway” — and several others onto a Twitch livestream he hosted just after the 76ers eliminated Boston. The stream stirred controversy as the longtime Celtic described last year as the favorite of his career despite playing most of it without Jayson Tatum.
Soldani called the bond “one of the most unlikely connections.”
Under the blockbuster deal, Boston sends the 29-year-old 2024 Finals MVP to their bitter Atlantic Division rival for 36-year-old veteran Paul George and four draft picks. Fans say it will take time to overcome losing a superstar who doubled as one of Massachusetts’ most impactful civic anchors.
“With all the impact that Jaylen has on the city, and the youth, and putting money into the city,” Soldani said, “it truly bankrupts the city as a community.”
This spring, Boston Magazine ranked Brown the eighth most influential Bostonian, detailing his work hosting fundraising bowling events and education fairs in Roxbury.
That legacy echoes across local sports talk radio as fans process the gamble taken by front-office architect Brad Stevens — a decision complicated by reports that Brown feels his decade of service ended without the mutual respect he earned.
Gov. Maura Healey noted on social media that it’s “hard to imagine” the Celtics without Brown. She added, “You’ll always have a home in Boston.”
In 2019, Brown founded the 7uice Foundation, a nonprofit providing healthcare, education, and digital literacy resources to underserved youth through its STEM-focused Bridge Program camp.
The work recently drew criticism from the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, a state watchdog, after lawmakers approved a $700,000 state earmark for the charity.
“Jaylen Brown is expected to earn roughly $60 million this year,” the Alliance posted. “If he wants to support charitable work through his foundation, that’s commendable. But why are Massachusetts taxpayers being asked to subsidize the private foundation of a multi-millionaire?”
In 2024, Brown also launched the Boston XChange with teammate Jrue Holiday, an incubator aiming to generate $5 billion in wealth for communities of color by providing $100,000 in funding to 10 local businesses annually.
Superfan KJ Green, creator of the “Green Runs Deep” brand, cut straight to the raw reality: “I want to (expletive) die right now.”
Green, who also appeared on the May livestream, praised Brown for making fans feel seen and knowing them by name. “This guy cared about using his platform to build other people up,” Green said. “He helped so many businesses in Boston get to the next level.”
For special education teacher Kaiya Santos, who partnered with Brown in 2023 to redesign a basketball court at Fenelon Street Playground in Dorchester, the loss is personal. “It was clear that the project was not just about beautifying a court,” Santos told the Herald. “It was about the role the space would play in the community. Boston will miss him.”
Mayor Michelle Wu thanked Brown for “shifting the energy” and always “showing up” for the city, even as he became a “Celtics great.”
“We won’t forget the looks on young players’ faces as you pulled up unannounced to tournaments in the park,” Wu posted, “or the hope and determination of entrepreneurs and students reaching for their dreams through the opportunities you made possible. Because of your example, kids in Boston know that faith, consistency, hard work pays off.”
For now, the city seems unwilling to let go: Brown’s larger-than-life posters still hang untouched inside the TD Garden ProShop and throughout the busy North Station concourses.
