Brian Scalabrine Claims Jaylen Brown Demanded Trade, Wanted Celtics to Send Him to Bucks originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Did Jaylen Brown actually force his way out of Boston? A former Celtics player certainly thinks so.
During Monday's episode of "The Starting Lineup," Brian Scalabrine, who spent five seasons in Boston, told co-host Frank Isola that Brown "demanded to be traded." The NBC Sports Boston analyst believes that Brown "lives in his own reality" and could "make stuff up" because his trade request wasn't reported before the Celtics sent him to the 76ers in July.
"My understanding is Jaylen Brown went to the organization and had a list of demands," Scalabrine said. "And it was like, 'You either do this, or you trade me.' And he was rooting to get traded to Milwaukee, including calling some other teammates about, 'Hey, man, what do you think of Milwaukee? We should go there.'"
@JrueLFG https://t.co/W62JXoca9Y
— Celtics Enjoyer (@JaysEnjoyer_) October 26, 2026
In the aftermath of the deal, Brown said that Boston "packed me up," and he was upset with the "amount of respect that was shown during this process."
"I think [president of basketball operations] Brad [Stevens] is probably getting a lot of the criticism. I wasn't thrilled with the way he facilitated some of the conversations," Brown said on a Twitch stream over the summer. "But I definitely think there's more to it. ... I just wish that the more to it could have been explained to me, because if the more to it was explained, I think I would've understood.
"I thought I earned respect enough to get that explanation, but hey, obviously I was wrong."
Jaylen Brown on Twitch: “Brad is probably getting a lot of the criticism (for the trade). I wasn’t thrilled with the way he facilitated some of the conversations. But, I definitely think there’s more to it. I just wish that the more to it could’ve been explained to me.” https://t.co/eQ1tx2RV5N
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) July 3, 2026
As Sports Illustrated's John Karalis noted, if Scalabrine's report is accurate, it would completely alter how Celtics fans view Brown and the blockbuster trade.
"If we take this at face value, then Jaylen Brown's behavior this summer is actually deeply unhinged," Karalis said. "Especially if he stood there at Boston Common [for a farewell party], looked at all of those people who came to support him because he got traded, and never let a single one of them know that he wanted out."
Brown has already responded to Jayson Tatum's comments about a potential beef. Will he have something to say to Scalabrine?