Jaylen Brown is not just being nice to his new teammates in Philadelphia. After only eight games with the 76ers, Brown publicly stated that Tyrese Maxey is the leader of the squad. This sudden shift in loyalty looks suspicious to anyone who followed the Celtics for a decade.
A Sudden Shift in Hierarchy
For years, Brown and Tatum danced around who was really the top star in Boston. The team won a championship, but the dynamic often felt awkward. Brown was an All-NBA Second Team player who finished sixth in MVP voting last season. Yet, he never openly said it was Tatum’s team. Now, he has no trouble admitting Maxey runs the show in Philadelphia. Per Hardwood Houdini, Brown said in a postgame press conference on Monday night, “Maxey’s been leading the way, 100%. He’s been here; this is his team… I’m finding my footing, but Maxey’s been leading the way for sure.”
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This statement is bizarre because Maxey made the All-NBA Third Team while Tatum made the First Team four years in a row. Brown was clearly willing to compete for the spotlight with Tatum before. He is now handing the keys to Maxey without a fight. Against the Celtics, Brown deferred to a teammate he previously ignored.
More Than Just Humility
One view is that the trade was a wake-up call that made Brown reflect on his role. He could be taking a more wholesome approach to his new situation. Hardwood Houdini notes that part of the trade deal was that Boston did not think Brown would ever take a backseat to Tatum. By publicly deferring to Maxey, Brown is sticking it to the franchise that moved him.
Brown is smart and usually picks his words with care. It is hard to believe this specific praise for Maxey is just a coincidence. He knows exactly how these comments will sound to fans in Boston. The contrast between his silence with Tatum and his loud praise for Maxey is too sharp to be accidental.
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The Real Target Behind the Words
This isn’t just about Tyrese Maxey. For nearly ten years, he competed with one of the NBA’s top talents. That relationship was successful but often contentious. Now, he is openly ceding authority to a player who is nowhere close to Tatum’s level. According to Hardwood Houdini, reports indicate that Brown “seemingly has no problem ceding power and authority to Tyrese Maxey.”
The 76ers are currently 7-1 and top of the Eastern Conference. Brown scored 25 points and added five assists in their Monday win over the Chicago Bulls. He has shown he can be a number one option elsewhere. The Celtics fans know he is making a statement.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
