76ers Rule Jaylen Brown Out Against Celtics in Preseason

Philadelphia will begin its preseason matchup against Boston without Jaylen Brown, postponing the former Celtics star's first return to TD Garden since his July trade. The 76ers ruled Brown out for rest ahead of Saturday's game, scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, while several other prominent players on both teams were also expected to miss the exhibition.

According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Brown will sit out the game against his former team, with Justin Edwards and Dean Wade expected to help cover his absence. Philadelphia and Boston have another preseason meeting scheduled for October 16, providing a potential opportunity for their leading players to face each other.

The 76ers acquired Brown from Boston on July 1 in exchange for Paul George, two first-round draft picks and two second-round picks. Brown spent the first 10 seasons of his NBA career with the Celtics after they selected him with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft.

During his Boston tenure, Brown earned five All-Star selections and two All-NBA honors and helped the franchise win the 2024 NBA Finals, when he received Finals MVP recognition. He delivered the strongest scoring season of his career in 2025-26, averaging 28.7 points per game while Jayson Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles tendon.

Before the scheduled matchup, Brown addressed his return to Boston during a Friday livestream, describing the unusual circumstances surrounding his departure and his transition to Philadelphia.

"It's just life," Brown said during the livestream, according to Bleacher Report.

Brown compared the reunion with his former team to encountering a former romantic partner unexpectedly. The New York Times also reported that he expressed enthusiasm about the matchup despite the circumstances of his departure.

"Interesting dynamic," Brown said, describing the situation during his livestream.

Brown explained the comparison by describing how people might react when unexpectedly encountering someone with whom they once had a relationship.

"It's like you running into your ex out in public. Like, 'Damn, we used to go together.' … And you just look at them and be like, 'Dang.' You just gotta go about your business. … It is what it is, man. But no, I'm super excited," Brown said, according to The New York Times.

His departure followed a difficult postseason for Boston. The Celtics finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 56-26 record and the Eastern Conference's No. 2 seed, but lost to Philadelphia in the first round after surrendering a 3-1 series lead.

Brown subsequently described his frustration with how the trade unfolded, saying he had not requested to leave Boston. He also emphasized his continuing attachment to the city where he spent a decade playing for the Celtics.

"It just didn't make (any) sense; I'm still piecing it together," Brown said after the trade, according to The New York Times.

He said the move happened suddenly and that he wanted a clearer explanation from the organization. Brown's comments highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the end of his long tenure with Boston.

"I love Boston," Brown said during the livestream.

Despite his departure, Brown indicated that he had been willing to remain with the Celtics for the foreseeable future.

"If it was up to me, I could play in Boston for the next 10 years," Brown said, according to The New York Times.

Philadelphia's broader preseason plans also remained uncertain. Head coach Nick Nurse had indicated that the team would use only one of its two remaining preseason games to give its starters extended playing time, potentially including minutes into the second half. ESPN's Dave McMenamin reported that the October 16 finale against Boston was the more likely occasion for that preparation.

Joel Embiid and LeBron James were also ruled out of Saturday's game. Philadelphia had additional injury concerns involving Dominick Barlow, Anfernee Simons and Adem Bona, while center Ariel Hukporti had been lost for the season after tearing his Achilles tendon against the Knicks.

Boston had rested several key players during its previous preseason outing, including Paul George, Jayson Tatum, Mitchell Robinson, Neemias Queta, Derrick White and Payton Pritchard. Ron Harper Jr. and Sam Hauser had also missed that game, leaving the Celtics' lineup for the Philadelphia matchup uncertain.

The preseason contest was scheduled to air locally on NBC Sports Philadelphia and nationally on NBA TV. With Brown unavailable, his first game against Boston since the trade remained pending as the teams prepared for their October 16 rematch.