Jaylen Brown is officially a Philadelphia 76er, joining Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, and if you thought the rivalry with the Boston Celtics couldn't get any spicier, think again. 76ers Head Coach Nick Nurse is absolutely elated by this blockbuster trade, even if he understands the insane weight this move carries. This isn't just a transaction; it's a seismic shift in one of basketball's most legendary feuds, and Nurse isn't shy about how much it means.
The Green-and-White Rollercoaster of 2025-26
The 2025-26 season was already a wild ride between these two bitter rivals. Historically, the Celtics and 76ers do not like each other, and frankly, their fans despise each other. Deals between them are rare, and when they happen, it just feels wrong. Nurse's squad managed to win two of their three regular season games against the Celtics, a respectable showing. But let's be real: Jaylen Brown didn't have Jayson Tatum for part of that stretch, as Tatum was recovering from an Achilles injury. Once Tatum returned, things looked like they were getting back to normal for Boston. However, the playoffs were a different story. The 76ers were staring down the barrel of a sweep in the first round, down 3-1, but the energy flipped hard. Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey led the 76ers to an incredible comeback, beating the struggling Celtics. It was the first time in 44 years Philly pulled off something like that.Nurse Gets Real About Landing Brown
Now, Nurse doesn't have to worry about Brown blocking his team's path to an NBA championship while wearing a Celtics jersey. You gotta love that! Nurse didn't hold back about his excitement for this trade, telling Tony Jones of The Athletic, "My first thoughts are that I’ve had a lot of battles against him. You watch him get a lot better from year to year and how much harder it became to game plan for him and things like that. He’s won a lot. Obviously, he’s won a title and a finals MVP. I think he’s a two-way player, and I think he’s versatile. I think he’s right there, sitting in his prime. It’s amazing that he’s a Sixer." Brown is coming off a season where he finished sixth in NBA MVP voting, so the 76ers are getting him at peak performance. The big question is how he'll mesh with a roster loaded with Embiid, Maxey, VJ Edgecombe, and Labaron Philon. Regardless of how the new pieces fit, one thing is certain: the Celtics are weaker without Brown. That's a win Coach Nurse can definitely take pride in, and it changes everything for the next season.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.