Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown has forcefully denied allegations that he demanded a trade from the Boston Celtics or presented the team with a list of ultimatums before his offseason move.
The denial comes after former Celtics player and current television analyst Brian Scalabrine claimed on his radio show that Brown had requested a trade and issued demands to Boston's front office. Brown's representatives labeled the assertion "10,000% a lie."
Brown addresses the claims
Speaking after the 76ers' victory on Wednesday night, Brown said he had no interest in letting "false allegations" follow him to Philadelphia. "I never demanded a trade. Never made a list of ultimatums. None of the sort. None of that is true," Brown told reporters, according to the Philly Voice. He added that he holds no ill will toward Scalabrine but understands the analyst's need to defend his former teammate Jayson Tatum.
Tensions with former teammate
The trade, which sent Brown to Philadelphia in a stunning in-division deal for Paul George, has fueled speculation about a rift between Brown and Tatum. Tatum said he was shocked by the move, a claim Brown finds hard to believe. While Tatum dismissed any serious conflict — saying "this ain't f--kin Shaq and Kobe" — Brown characterized the dynamic as potentially "lamb chops and gravy."
Upcoming reunion
The Celtics are scheduled to visit Philadelphia on Nov. 10, ensuring the storyline will resurface. Brown said he will address the circumstances of his departure at an appropriate time but intends to remain focused on the season. The trade raised eyebrows around the league because it followed Brown's All-NBA campaign in 2025-26 and appeared more hurried than the calculated approach typical of Celtics president Brad Stevens.
