Jaylen Brown sends clear message on his legacy before 76ers debut

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Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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Jaylen Brown will enter a new chapter in his NBA career this coming season as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, and revealed what he wants for his legacy.

Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali sat down with the five-time All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP to discuss how he's unafraid to speak his mind, despite criticism from others.

"I think it's a fear still that's instilled in talented people's brains, that if I use my abilities beyond what people are comfortable for, there's gonna be major pushback," Brown told Ali for The Hollywood Reporter, adding, "And for me, the reason why I'm comfortable doing it because I just don't care."

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Ali said he felt that would be Brown's legacy, as he's been able to speak his mind "in spaces that go beyond the sport itself." Brown is known for often expressing his opinions on livestream, some of which have riled up sports media personalities and online critics.

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Former Celtics star Jaylen Brown warming up before game against Knicks

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Most notably, Brown got into a feud with ESPN's Stephen A. Smith after the Celtics season. The two engaged in back-and-forth remarks and commentary aimed at one another on social media, television, and live streams during the offseason.

That ultimately died down, with Brown traded from the Celtics to a 76ers squad that already had All-Stars Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid in the starting lineup, and then signed NBA legend LeBron James. Along with rising star VJ Edgecombe in that starting five, Philly immediately moved up with the Knicks as the top Eastern Conference contenders to win the NBA Finals in 2027.

During the interview for THR's "Game Recognize Game" series, Ali asked Brown, aside from winning NBA championships and awards like Most Valuable Player, what he would like his legacy to be.

"I want to break down that fear. I'm not here for entertainment. Like, God didn't put me here to entertain some people. He gave me abilities to run, jump, speak, articulate myself; not for other people who don't value me to just be entertained," Brown said.

"I think my legacy will be, hopefully, is inspiring the next generation to be fearless," the 76ers star told Ali.

Brown gets his NBA regular season underway as the Philadelphia 76ers take on the reigning champion New York Knicks on Oct. 20 in Madison Square Garden after the raising of their championship banner.

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