Jaylen Brown comforts young Celtics fan after heartbreaking trade to 76ers

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The Boston Celtics made the biggest move of the NBA offseason when they agreed to send franchise star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers, ending a decade-long partnership and instantly reshaping the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.

The blockbuster deal sent shockwaves throughout the NBA, with Celtics fans struggling to come to terms with seeing one of the organization's most beloved stars headed to a longtime rival. Brown wasn't just a five-time All-Star and NBA Finals MVP—he became one of the faces of the franchise and a fan favorite during his 10 seasons in Boston.

Among the countless reactions online, one emotional moment stood out enough to catch Brown's attention.

Jaylen Brown responds to emotional young Celtics fan

A video circulating on social media featured six-year-old Celtics fan Giovanni Rubin wearing Brown's No. 7 jersey while fighting back tears after learning his favorite player had been traded. The young fan expressed how much Brown meant to him and said he would continue supporting the former Celtics star despite the move.

Brown saw the video and made sure to respond personally in the Instagram comments.

"It's ok lil bro ❤️ we will always be friends."

The simple message quickly spread across social media, with many praising Brown for taking the time to acknowledge one of his youngest fans during what has been an emotional week for everyone connected to the Celtics. It served as another reminder of why Brown became so respected in Boston, only for his production on the floor, but for the way he connected with the community away from basketball.

Damn pic.twitter.com/Veda64uvkf

— jb (@lockedupjb) July 2, 2026

Brown leaves behind one of the best careers in recent Celtics history

Brown exits Boston as one of the defining players of the franchise's modern era. Selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, he developed into one of the NBA's elite two-way wings while helping lead the Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship. Brown earned NBA Finals MVP honors during that title run and was selected to five All-Star Games during his time with the organization.

His final season in Boston was arguably the best of his career. Brown averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists over 71 games during the 2025-26 campaign, finishing fourth in the NBA in scoring and sixth in MVP voting. He carried much of the offensive load while Jayson Tatum recovered from a ruptured Achilles.

Those performances made him one of the league's most valuable players—and ultimately one of the biggest names available in this summer's stunning blockbuster.

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A new chapter begins in Philadelphia

Brown now joins a Philadelphia roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and rookie V.J. Edgecombe after the 76ers acquired him in exchange for Paul George, two first-round picks and two second-round picks. The move immediately gives Philadelphia another elite scorer and dramatically changes expectations in the Eastern Conference heading into next season.

For Celtics fans, though, Brown's brief message to a heartbroken six-year-old may end up being one of his final memorable moments in green. Even after the trade that stunned Boston, Brown made it clear that the bond he built with Celtics fans isn't something he believes disappears with a change of jersey.