PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUG 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during his introductory press conference on August 6, 2026 at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - AUG 6: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Philadelphia 76ers smiles during his introductory press conference on August 6, 2026 at the Francis J. Myers Recreation Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 76ers star Jaylen Brown recently sat down with The Hollywood Reporter for a conversation with two-time Oscar winner Mahershala Ali, where he discussed the influence of Black athletes in politics and his desire to build an NBA legacy, among other things.
Brown addressed Ali’s question about how he counters the resistance he faces when athletes are told to stay restricted to their sport and not do much beyond that in the community.
“Yep. I would say this, it might be a little controversial, but I think it’s rooted in fear, even within our own community. There’s pushback, or almost like a hesitancy, rooted in the trauma of slavery.”
“At one point, to do anything outside of being a slave was problematic. Reading, writing, anything. It’s similar to when you think of an athlete doing anything outside of what you’re just supposed to be doing. You’re supposed to just be entertaining me. Right?” Jaylen Brown said.
“You’re not supposed to be doing anything else outside of that. And some people firmly still believe that. But I disagree. My responsibility is not to entertain you. My responsibility is to be influential.”
“I think that fear is projected onto us in order to make us smaller, to make us more digestible, for the people who only want you to be the slave. They only want you to be the entertainer.”
“I think it’s a fear that’s instilled in talented people’s brains that if I use my abilities beyond what people are comfortable with, there’s going to be major pushback. For me, the reason I’m comfortable doing it is that I just don’t care,” Brown said.
After the conversation went viral, Jaylen Brown added a short note on X to explain his message.
“The ancestors want you to stand on your victories,” he wrote motivationally.
Earlier this summer, before Brown’s trade to the 76ers was finalized, controversial reports claimed he put off people in the Celtics organization with his constant desire to be the smartest person in the room.
Oftentimes, ‘Shut up and dribble’ is a common stereotype that basketball players face when it comes to political issues. Brown doesn’t want those critics to define his NBA legacy.
“When it’s all said and done, I want to break down that fear. That fear I’m speaking to is still instilled in our community. It’s in our parents, in our grandparents — because of the trauma and experiences that they’ve had.”
“I want to break that fear down for the next generation. My legacy will be, hopefully, inspiring the next generation to be fearless,” Brown further added.
In another message on X, Jaylen Brown added a three-word message about how he wants his NBA legacy to be.
“Fearlessness is contagious,” the 76ers star wrote.
Just last week, Brown directly addressed Colin Cowherd’s controversial report stating that black athletes are often made to feel secluded because major corporations only care about money and not uplifting communities. Brown aims to change that perception by continuing his efforts to uplift his community.
Jaylen Brown is coming off a season where he finished sixth in the MVP voting while averaging 28.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 47.5% from the field and 35.2% from behind the three-point line in 78 games played (including the playoffs).
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, Brown has a chance to start fresh and begin a new chapter. It will certainly be fascinating to see if Brown can redefine his legacy the way he wants to in Philadelphia.