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Ranking Jaylen Brown’s Side Quests Ahead of the Sixers Season
By Sean Barnard
Published:
Flashback to nearly five months ago, and it was Joel Embiid talking trash to Jaylen Brown as the Sixers completed a 3-1 series comeback to defeat the Celtics in the postseason for the first time in this era of basketball. The two will now be suiting up on the same side, with LeBron James joining them in the process.
It’s been a busy offseason for Brown, of which thankfully the Sixers’ bad voodoo has not attached to him just yet. From sesame allergies to thoracic outlet surgery to alleged car accidents, there have been a number of head-scratching injuries and issues surrounding key members of this Sixers team. But Brown has tested the fate of the universe at a rate that was a bit beyond what should be the new comfort level for him.
To be clear, I am not a stick-to-basketball guy. These guys commit hours to their craft, and spending a few hours trying something new should not be an issue in the offseason. This is especially the case when there is plenty of video evidence of Brown working out alongside his new teammates in James, Tyrese Maxey, and more. However, the risk vs. reward equation must shift slightly in Brown’s head moving forward as he adjusts to the standards the universe has set for this Sixers franchise. The margins are slimmer, the risks are greater, and this must be properly recognized.
But since the damage is done, let’s look back at the most interesting Jaylen Brown side quests as he prepares for his first season in Philadelphia.
Honorable Mentions
Twitch Streams
It took roughly 24 hours for Jaylen Brown to hop on his own Twitch channel and talk publicly following the trade that sent him to Philadelphia. The former Finals MVP has been open and active on this platform for quite some time. There will surely be stretches during his Sixers’ tenure where it grows tiresome to hear him speak in this setting. This has little to do with Brown himself and much more to do with the modern internet ecosystem that loves to make something out of nothing.
With this said, Brown deserves to be viewed through a bit of a different lens than most athletes who dip their toes in the celebrity/creator pool. He is intelligent and talks openly in a way that is rare and refreshing. The California product has spoken openly about how he prefers to speak in this setting because he can explain things exactly how he means, rather than being dependent on a back-and-forth with a reporter or relying on someone else to broadcast or publish the work. During his first stream after the trade, which was the first time I actively checked in outside of a few clips that I have seen through the years, it was fascinating to hear him be open and honest about how strange the whole circumstance was for him. Brown talked about how he had real roots set up in Boston, had given everything to the organization since the second he was drafted, and how he has been wired to specifically hate the Sixers since he came to the league.
Sure, it would be easier to give the simple PR answers about his mindset on the trade. But Brown’s willingness and effectiveness to speak his mind on the situation is uncommon for a professional athlete. Don’t expect this to be the last time we are discussing Brown’s presence on Twitch, but don’t take ugly headlines just at face value surrounding comments he makes on there without at least hearing out the full context.
Opening Sixers Press Conference
When he did have his formal introduction as a member of the 76ers’ organization, there was also a different vibe to it. Generally, these are pretty cookie-cutter, in which the basic questions are asked about his expectations with his new team, his relationship with his new teammates, and the new player is largely given the opportunity to answer softball questions and start off his tenure on the right foot. Given the public comments Brown made on his own platform and how tied his career has been to the rivalry with the 76ers, it was not a surprise the tune of this presser was a little different.
But beyond just this, the press conference was not held at any Sixers’ facility. Instead, it took place at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in West Philadelphia per Brown’s specific request. He talked openly about his desire to be involved in the community, with a large collection of local children in attendance. Brown answered all the expected questions and navigated around ones he did not feel comfortable acknowledging, largely those that had to do with the Celtics’ organization, but he made it a clear point to bring the focus back to the community at a rate that stood out. There was a festival-like feel as the Sixers Stixers played Brown on and off the stage, and the entire vibe of it was a bit different, seemingly by his own directive:
Shooting Range
Brown has gotten plenty of shots up on a basketball court, but also has at least some level of interest in a different form of shooting. This isn’t exactly an area of expertise of mine, but the dude seems like a decent shot.
Now, to the list.
5. Training With a Kung Fu Master in China
In the early portion of June, Brown took a trip to China, where he trained at the Shaolin Temple. This is considered one of the birthplaces of Buddhism, and the same place where Victor Wembanyama trained with monks last offseason. His Chinese name, Long Bulang, translates roughly to Dragon Brown. He has also reportedly trained in Muay Thai for several years prior to making this trip to China.
Martial arts are one of those things that most of us think of as a kids’ activity, until you see someone who actually knows what they are doing. Like these guys that are training Brown are the type of dudes that you would walk by on the street without thinking anything of it, but they could put you in a physical pretzel in the same effort level it takes to snap their fingers. The mindset and mentality it takes for Kung Fu seems like something that would especially appeal to Brown, and it feels pretty certain he went way harder in training than something that most guys would treat as a photo-op.
4. Playing Baseball in the Dominican Republic
Despite my best efforts of searching Google, I cannot find any track record of Jaylen Brown having experience on the baseball diamond. But his swing down in the Dominican Republic, while playing in full uniform for La Javilla Academy in Santo Domingo Este, was enough to make me do some research. This is a prominent baseball facility in the DR that was founded in 1958 and run by former MLB player Alberto Castillo. Brown also looked more than competent throwing the first pitch at the Phillies game not too long after this outing.
Obviously, it was the Sixers who went out and traded for Brown this offseason. But the Phillies just qualified for the playoffs and haven’t had a consistent right-handed bat in the outfield for the bulk of the season. It feels at least worth looking into if this contract could hold power in the stadium across the street, as the Phillies could use all the help they could get after limping into the playoffs. Besides, Brown could at least give Adolis Garcia a run for the strongest frame in the MLB.
3. Boxing in Nigeria
Also checked off his offseason bucket list, Brown made his boxing debut in Nigeria. He has also publicly considered joining the UFC after his NBA retirement. This boxing match occurred through his nonprofit, 7uice, with the social media caption posted by the foundation stating, “The metaphor is you gotta fight for what you want!”
Brown was quick to quip online that he did zero training for this and, thankfully, it seems the new Sixers star was not facing an opponent that was capable of doing any sort of major damage. I could not find any sort of confirmed identity for the opponent he stepped in the ring with, but he was largely looking Brown’s 6-foot-6 frame in the eye throughout. I did, however, learn that boxing runs in the five-time All-Star’s blood. His father, Quinton Marseilles Brown, is a former professional boxer with a 33-18-1 record, including 25 knockout wins, and stood 7 feet tall.
2. Fencing in Italy
The uniqueness of fencing earned its place at second on this ranking. I have watched plenty of boxing matches, played baseball growing up, walked by martial arts studios on a somewhat regular basis, but I would not even know where to start to get into fencing. Even watching the video, I have absolutely zero clue how the scoring works, and I can’t help but wonder how bad it hurts to get stabbed with one of those sabres. Nonetheless. I am thrilled he did not end up looking like an accidental shish kabob and came away largely impressed with the footwork he put on display:
1. Skydiving in Egypt
The skydiving trip caught the most buzz among Brown’s offseason ventures, but rightfully so. He jumped out of a plane from over 13,000 feet over the Great Pyramids of Giza, which he claimed was to conquer his fear of heights. I’ll be honest, you could offer me the entirety of the $285.4 million max contract Brown first signed with the Celtics to jump off of that plane, and I still probably am not giving it much consideration. It also feels bizarre to me why this had to happen in Egypt.* Did we need to increase the variables of risk by a few degrees by leaving the continent? Brown was also proud to tell everyone that he has made it a rule in the team group chat that they will all be going skydiving if they win the championship.
The biggest question that pops into my mind when looking at all of these offseason activities is: how did these events even come together? There is nothing surprising about a successful, multimillionaire athlete going to Turks and Caicos to relax on an island or traveling the world. But how does one even end up in a boxing match in Nigeria, wearing protective fencing gear, or get a chance to play baseball in the DR?
The clear answer here is that these are opportunities that Brown values and seeks out. He is a free thinker and wired differently than what most people expect from any athlete, and this should be celebrated. Both on and off the court, Brown is going to be a major part of the identity of Philadelphia this year and moving forward. There is a world where he climbs into the clear focal point of the Sixers franchise moving forward. The offseason is over, it is time to lock in, and let’s not test the basketball Gods that have punished the Sixers at nearly the rate that was the case this offseason moving forward.
*Kinkead: the only exotic place I made it to this summer was South Jersey
Sean Barnard has covered the Philadelphia 76ers and general Philly Sports for over six years in a variety of roles and for multiple outlets. Currently works as a Content Writer for DraftKings Network, Sixers/NBA Insider for Philadelphia's Fox Sports the Gambler, and co-host of Sixers & Phillies Digest on Youtube. Forever Trusting the Process.