Jaylen Brown plays against Boston Celtics for first time, and moves closer to Sixers’ official debut

A smile crossed Jaylen Brown’s face while surrounded by a group of Boston Celtics, including Luka Garza and Ron Harper Jr., in the aftermath of Friday’s matchup against the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.

Less than six months ago, those three players started Game 7 of the Celtics’ first-round playoff loss to the Sixers. Now they were on opposite sides of the Eastern Conference rivalry, following Brown’s shocking offseason trade to the Sixers.

The Sixers’ preseason finale certainly will not match the emotional magnitude of Nov. 10, when Brown is expected to play the Celtics for the first time in the regular season, or Jan. 21, when he is expected to play in Boston for the first time as a visitor. But did the past week — when Brown stepped back into TD Garden (but did not play) last Saturday, then totaled 20 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in a game-like setting against the Celtics Friday — mean he got some of the awkwardness out of the way?

“I’m not sure how to answer that,” Brown said from his locker after the Sixers’ 125-120 overtime loss. “I played there for 10 years, so it’ll never be ‘out of the way,’ you know what I mean? But it was good to see some of the young guys. Spent a lot of time with those guys. To see them develop and getting better is good to see.”

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Brown’s candor is understandable, given he blossomed into a five-time All-Star, 2024 NBA champion and Finals MVP, and icon for his community work as a Celtic. He also is still fresh off his best individual season of his career in 2025-26. He averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists, and finished sixth in voting for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player, while anchoring a team that mostly played without fellow star Jayson Tatum while he recovered from Achilles surgery.

And to even say that Brown went up against his former team Friday is a bit of a stretch. There was no Tatum or Derrick White or Payton Pritchard, who did not make the trip to Philly. Or Paul George, the former Sixer whom the Celtics acquired in the blockbuster deal. Or Joe Mazzulla, who for Friday’s matchup gave the coaching reins to assistant Sam Cassell (who also was on Doc Rivers’ Sixers staff).

“It’ll be different,” Cassell said with a chuckle during his pregame news conference when asked about facing Brown. “But, hey, like I always said, Jaylen Brown means a lot to the city of Boston.”

Still, Brown reiterated that much of his preseason has been about getting acclimated to his new surroundings. That includes the Sixers’ practice facility and tactical schemes on both ends of the floor. And Philly itself, including visiting three local schools Wednesday. And with new teammates on the Sixers’ revamped, star-studded roster that also features LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey, and Joel Embiid.

“We just are inching closer every single day,” Brown said. “So we’ve got to just continue to emphasize the type of mentality that we want to have — and the accountability that we want to have — and keep moving forward.”

While in Boston last Friday, Brown said on his popular Twitch stream that playing against the Celtics would feel like “running into your ex out in public.” The next night, he went through a pregame workout at TD Garden. But Brown did not suit up for the game, or watch it from the Sixers’ bench.

Brown was back on the floor Friday with Maxey, Embiid, and James, who also were in their final preseason tune-up before Tuesday’s marquee opening night at the defending-champion New York Knicks. Brown scored seven first-quarter points. In the second frame, he got to the rim for a two-handed dunk and buried a corner three-pointer off a feed from James. He played with reserves at the start of the fourth quarter. He finished 8-for-14 from the floor.

» READ MORE: Sixers star Jaylen Brown plays with his heart on his sleeve. For the first time, it won’t bleed green.

That all built on a preseason during which Sixers coach Nick Nurse said he was impressed with Brown’s offensive creation, including while using his balance and strength as a “methodical driver.”

“He’s really committed to getting better,” Nurse added during Friday’s pregame news conference. “He practices hard. He prepares very thoroughly. All those kinds of things. So that’s been a huge plus for our team.”

While gathered with those former teammates after Friday’s game, a man in a Celtics jersey yelled “Jaylen!” from the stands behind the basket closest to Boston’s bench. For the first time for a Sixers-Celtics matchup, Brown would not walk past those seats before entering the visitors’ tunnel.

It was another step away from the Celtics, and closer to Brown’s official Sixers debut.

“We’re building that trust and that chemistry,” he said. “And it’s just 1% better every day.”