Jaylen Brown said goodbye to the city Sunday at a free outdoor event at Boston Common that drew an estimated 10,000 fans, closing a decade-long chapter with the Celtics with a Jaylen Brown Way street sign, and a key to the city presented on behalf of the state of Massachusetts.
The event was organized by Brown’s brand, 741 Performance, along with the city of Boston and local restaurant Hue Boston. It ran from 2 to 7 p.m. and required no tickets. Fans signed a message board for Brown and lined up for autographs, which he signed on both Celtics and 76ers jerseys and hats. There were performances from Lil Jon, Lil Baby and A$AP Ferg. He broadcasted live on Twitch for nearly two and a half hours.
He was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers on July 1, ending his 10-year tenure in Boston. He won the 2024 NBA Finals with the Celtics and was named MVP. He will return to face his former team on Jan. 21 when the 76ers play in Boston.
The community dimension
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu came to the event with city government colleagues and went on stage to speak about what his presence had meant to the city beyond basketball. She described seeing him in schools, classrooms and parks over the years, and said he had changed lives. She said the crowd was there because of that impact.
The city presented him with a street sign that read Jaylen Brown Way, with Wu telling him it was so he would never forget.
Representative Christopher Worrell, speaking on behalf of the state of Massachusetts, presented him with a key to his district in recognition of his work in Black and brown communities. He put his hands over his head in a visibly stunned reaction.
Brown on Boston
He addressed the crowd from the stage and expressed his love for the city in direct and emotional terms. He reflected on arriving and committing himself to the city, describing the people he met in the community who motivated him on his journey and supported him even during difficult periods. He said he wanted to thank the city and that he loves it.
He posted a brief message on social media after the event expressing that he was struck by what had happened.
He estimated roughly 10,000 attended, saying he was at a loss for words and expressing appreciation for everyone who came out.
The music and the moments
He and A$AP Ferg performed their collaborative song together on stage. The Larry O’Brien Trophy was brought through the crowd at one point. He walked the grounds, posed with fans and signed autographs. One fan asked him to sign the notes app on their iPhone, which he responded to with amusement.
What Brown leaves behind
He is a five-time NBA All-Star who spent his entire NBA career to this point with the Celtics. His community involvement was consistent and publicly documented in a way that went well beyond typical athlete charitable activity. The mayor’s presence, and the city government’s decision to name a street after him and present a key to the district, reflect the depth of that relationship.
The forward arrives in Philadelphia with a championship ring, a Finals MVP award and a decade of institutional knowledge about what it takes to win at the highest level. What the city sends him off with is something different.
