Allen Iverson Reacts to Jaylen Brown Trade
Allen Iverson reacted to the Jaylen Brown trade on Instagram, writing “Let’s Go jack!!! #Throwtheballup!!!” after the Celtics traded Brown to the 76ers on Wednesday.
The Celtics traded Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and four draft picks, including a 2028 first-round pick and an unprotected 2031 first-rounder.
The move came days after Boston’s failed pursuit of Giannis Antetokounmpo. Brown will join Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and rookie VJ Edgecombe in Philadelphia.
As a Hall of Fame guard who spent 10 seasons with the 76ers, Allen Iverson's support for Brown is significant. Iverson posted his reaction on Instagram, showing his excitement for the trade.
The 76ers eliminated the Celtics in the first round of the playoffs this spring. Brown called Joel Embiid a flopper on a live stream.
The Celtics now belong to Jayson Tatum alone. The team banked four draft picks in the deal, a bet that rebuilding beats paying two max stars in the luxury-tax era.
Brown reportedly never asked out of Boston. The Celtics had been shopping him aggressively across the league after offering him, along with two unprotected first-round picks, to the Milwaukee Bucks for Antetokounmpo.
Milwaukee sent the two-time MVP to Miami instead. Celtics president Brad Stevens had called Brown a “big part” of the franchise’s future just weeks earlier.
Brown’s exit closes out a decade that turned him from a defensive-minded rookie into a championship centerpiece. Boston took him third overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Patrick Beverley, a former 76er, offered a blunt take on the trade, writing “Disappointed in Boston. Philly wins that trade” on Instagram.
Jeff Teague devoted an emergency podcast episode to breaking down Brown’s new situation in Philadelphia and what it means for the rest of his career.
Hall of Famer Tracy McGrady, a longtime mentor to Brown, had said on his own podcast before the trade that frustration had been building for Brown within the Celtics organization.
Widespread commentary from players and insiders labeled the return for Brown lopsided in Philadelphia’s favor. Yahoo Sports reported this in its roundup.
The Celtics landed Paul George, a nine-time All-Star who averaged 17.3 points and 5.3 rebounds across 78 games over the past two seasons in Philadelphia.
George was suspended 25 games in January for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy before returning in March and playing well in the postseason.
Sportsbooks reacted immediately, with Philadelphia’s championship odds jumping from 60-1 to 22-1, while Boston’s dropped from plus-700 to 10-1.
Brown carried Boston to 56 wins and the No. 2 seed in the East this past season, only to fall to Philadelphia in the first round.
The trade marks a new era for the Celtics, with Jayson Tatum as the sole max star. The team will look to rebuild around him, using the draft picks acquired in the trade.
The 76ers, on the other hand, will look to make a deep playoff run with Brown, Embiid, and Maxey leading the charge. Allen Iverson's support for the trade is a significant endorsement for the team's chances.