Jaylen Brown has been involved in trade talks and rumors for most of his career. What fans probably don’t know is just how close he came to leaving Boston. Then, a retired NBA legend picked up the phone and changed his future, and the future of the franchise. Had it not been for Tracy McGrady, the Celtics’ championship run might have never happened.
The Untold Story Behind the Decision That Saved Celtics’ Title Run
Brown recently opened up in a video and revealed a secret he kept for years: he almost left the Celtics. There was a point when his name was constantly tossed around in trade rumors. When the time came to choose between re-signing with Boston or exploring a new beginning, his idol stepped in at the perfect moment. That conversation between Brown and McGrady changed history. Here’s what Brown said about nearly leaving the Celtics:
“One of my favorite people in the world, one of my mentors, is Tracy McGrady. I valued our relationship so much. He was always my favorite. There were times when things were looking rough here in Boston. I’ve been in many trade talks. There was always something. So I was like, you know, maybe it’s time to go. I think I’m talented, I can score the ball. T-Mac was like, ‘Stay bro. Trust me, whatever you can do — if you can stay, and you’ve got an opportunity to win, win.’ I forever took that with me.”
Jaylen Brown admits he thought about leaving the Celtics, but Tracy McGrady convinced him to stay
“Nah, bro, trust me. Whatever you can do, if you could stay, you’ve got the opportunity to win, win.”
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@FCHWPO ) pic.twitter.com/g7otoV9eWR
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 24, 2025
In the same video, Brown revealed that when he made his first All-Star appearance, he paid tribute to McGrady through his shoe design.
Today, Brown is an integral part of the Celtics. He helped deliver a championship and won Finals MVP in the process. We’ll never know what would have happened if Boston had traded him. Would they still have won a title? We’ll never find out.
Jaylen Brown Trade Rumors Through the Years
One thing Brown can certainly take away from all the rumors is that he was always mentioned in deals for Hall of Fame–level players. In 2019, there were serious discussions about the Celtics trading him for Kawhi Leonard. Kawhi ended up in Toronto, and Boston waited a few more years for its championship moment.
Then, in 2022, Boston explored a trade package for Kevin Durant. KD wound up in Phoenix, and the Celtics won the title two years later.
Over the years, there has been constant fan-driven speculation and media chatter. It seems like every time the Celtics missed the Finals or Brown had a tough playoff series, new reports surfaced about potential trades.
This past summer, the Celtics found themselves on the other side of the story. There were rumors that they received offers for both Brown and Derrick White. The speculation was fueled partly by Boston’s salary-cap situation and the belief that Jayson Tatum might miss the season.
One thing worth noting: Brad Stevens has been consistently transparent with Brown about the noise and the rumors. Now, the Finals MVP has a long-term contract with the Celtics, going through the 2028–29 season.
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