Jaylen Brown admits Tracy McGrady talked him out of leaving Boston

Before he won the 2024 Eastern Conference finals and 2024 NBA Finals MVP awards, Jaylen Brown was always viewed as the second fiddle to Jayson Tatum.

The Celtics picked Brown and Tatum No.3 overall in back-to-back drafts in 2016 and 2017. Still, most felt the latter was more well-rounded and the better overall basketball player. Some even suggested they would be better off playing on different teams.

Whenever the Celtics fell short, trade speculation swirled — and Brown, perceived as the lesser of the duo, was usually the one at the center of the rumors.

"There were times when things were looking rough here in Boston," he admitted. "I don't know how many times they've put me in trade talks for whatever reason; it was always something. It was other players that Brad or whoever thought the organization was better fit or they were paying more money, whatever."

McGrady made Brown stay

According to Brown, there was a time when he felt it might be time to move elsewhere. He knew he had the talent to shine and could score at a high level, but he believed he never had the opportunity to blossom into a superstar in Boston due to the team's dynamics.

But just as when he was about to make up his mind, Brown said that Tracy McGrady stepped in and gave him unexpected advice, one that changed his outlook on his NBA career.

"T-Mac was like, 'Stay, bro.' I was like, 'Huh?' I'm thinking, like, T-Mac and Vince, T-Mac chose to leave in order to go be the T-Mac who he initially was," Brown said. "I'm thinking that's what he was going to say. He was like, 'Na, bro, trust me, whatever you can do, if you can stay and you've got an opportunity to win, win.'"

"I was like, damn, and I forever took that with me. Even behind closed doors, when things have always been up and down, I've always held onto that message. I want to win first," the Celtics star added.

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McGrady was in a similar situation

McGrady admitted to the Toronto Star that he wished he had not left the Toronto Raptors in the 2000 free agency despite being in a similar situation to Brown's.

McGrady was Toronto's ninth overall pick in the 1997 NBA Draft, but with Vince Carter already emerging as the franchise star, he never fully had the chance to grow into his own. He eventually got that opportunity in Orlando, but never got close to winning a championship in with the Magic.

"In hindsight, looking back, obviously, I wish I had stayed in Toronto. There's no doubt we could have contended for a championship. I think about that often," McGrady said.

Carter and McGrady both became all-time greats and one of the most respected players of their era. That said, it would have been interesting to see how far they could have taken the Raptors together. Unfortunately for Toronto, no one was there to change McGrady's mind about leaving.

Boston had that luxury with Brown. As a result, he won the championship ring that had eluded McGrady after he chose to leave the Raptors.

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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Nov 25, 2025, where it first appeared in the Teams section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.