Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has made a surprising and honest admission about his time with the team, revealing he seriously considered asking for a trade after growing tired of the constant rumors. This revelation came during a casual live stream where Brown opened up about his frustrations and the pivotal advice that changed his career path.

The All-Star forward did not hold back, detailing a period where he felt undervalued and frequently mentioned in trade discussions. “There were times when things was looking rough here in Boston. I don’t know how many times they put me in trade talks, for whatever reason. It was always something,” Brown said. He explained that the situation made him question his future with the franchise that drafted him.

Brown’s frustration stemmed from seeing other players prioritized. He felt the organization, including President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens, believed others were a better fit or worth more investment. “It was other players that Brad or whoever thought the organization was a better fit or they were paying more money, whatever,” he stated. This led him to a breaking point where he contemplated a fresh start elsewhere.

His belief fueled the thought of leaving in his own abilities. Brown was confident he could thrive as a primary scoring option on another team. “So I was like, you know, I think it may be time to go, you know what I mean? I could go somewhere else. I’m talented. I think I can score the ball at a very, very high level,” Brown admitted during the stream. He felt his growth was being limited in Boston.

At that pivotal moment, he sought advice from his mentor, Tracy McGrady. Brown explained that given McGrady’s own career path, where he left the Toronto Raptors to become a superstar, he expected T-Mac to tell him to leave. “I’m thinking that’s what he was going to say,” Brown recalled.

To his surprise, McGrady gave him the opposite advice. The Hall of Famer, who never won an NBA title himself, emphasized the importance of winning. “He was like, ‘Na, bro, trust me, whatever you can do, if you can stay and you’ve got an opportunity to win, win,’” Brown recounted. That message resonated deeply with the Celtics forward.

Brown said he has carried those words with him ever since. “I forever took that with me. Even behind closed doors when things have always been up and down, I’ve always held onto that message. I want to win first,” he stated. This guidance proved crucial, leading to Brown earning the 2024 NBA Finals MVP award as the Celtics won the championship.

Despite the success and his key role on the team, trade speculation around Brown did not completely disappear. NBA insider Zach Lowe recently hinted in June that the Sacramento Kings could emerge as a surprising new suitor for the All-Star wing. Lowe suggested the Kings might be prepared to make a massive offer to acquire Brown.

Any potential deal with Sacramento would require significant salary matching, possibly involving a player like Domantas Sabonis. The core of a compelling offer from the Kings would likely be a large haul of draft capital, as they control all their future first-round picks. Boston’s front office has publicly downplayed serious trade talks involving Brown.

Earlier this offseason, Boston Celtics vice president Mike Zarren stated that there was nothing close to a serious deal regarding Brown or Derrick White. The team has focused its summer negotiations on exploring trades for role players. This aligns with their efforts to manage assets and retain key free agents.

A Mentor’s Lasting Influence

The bond between Jaylen Brown and Tracy McGrady is both deep and long-standing. Brown has consistently called McGrady one of his “big bros” and “mentors,” a relationship that began when Brown was a 17-year-old high school player on the Adidas circuit. He has always considered McGrady and Kobe Bryant his favorite players.

Their connection is visibly reflected in Brown’s game, which carries noticeable shades of McGrady’s smooth scoring style and footwork. This mentorship extends beyond advice, as the two have been filmed working out together for years. Brown’s admiration even showed in his first All-Star game appearance, where he wore specially designed shoes with “Humble” and “Hungry” on them, a direct tribute to the message McGrady gave him as a teen.

McGrady has always been a public supporter of Jaylen Brown. Back in 2023, he famously called Celtics fans who wanted to trade Brown “crazy.” He argued that the duo of Brown and Jayson Tatum was too talented to break up, confidently predicting they would eventually “raise a banner” together, a prophecy that was fulfilled just one year later. This enduring support system clearly played a pivotal role in Brown’s career trajectory and his ultimate success in Boston.