The offseason isn’t even two weeks old for the Boston Celtics, but there has already been quite a bit of drama surrounding the team. After throwing away a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers, changes are coming for the C’s, and the guy who has found himself at the center of attention is Jaylen Brown.
Even though he is fresh off the best season of his career, Brown is at the center of trade rumors surrounding Boston early on this offseason. Brown hasn’t helped matters much by continuing to make cryptic comments in the media, and it’s safe to say that there may be some real juice to these rumors. However, for a brief second at least, Brown found himself in the news on Friday morning for something that isn’t related to his potential trade status.
Jaylen Brown Announced as Finalist for 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion Award
With Jayson Tatum missing the majority of the 2025-26 campaign as he recovered from a torn Achilles tendon, Brown stepped up and led the Celtics on a surprising run to the playoffs. Brown averaged career-highs across the board (28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 47.7 FG%), and he seems destined to earn a spot on the All-NBA First Team.
And yet, even with Tatum back in the fold in the playoffs, Boston couldn’t prevent itself from getting sent on vacation by Philadelphia in crushing fashion. With Brown now having solidified himself as one of the top 10 players in the league, questions about his fit alongside Tatum have begun to pop up again, leading folks to wonder if this could be the offseason where the front office opts to break up this longtime duo.
There are a lot of questions surrounding Brown that will be clarified later this offseason. In a new development that isn’t related to a potential trade, though, Brown will also be interested to see if he earns one of the more prestigious awards the NBA has to offer, as he was announced as one of the five finalists for the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion Award on Friday morning.
“Bam Adebayo (Heat), Harrison Barnes (Spurs), Jaylen Brown (Celtics), Tobias Harris (Pistons), and Larry Nance Jr. (Cavs) have been selected as the five finalists for the 2026 NBA Social Justice Champion award,” Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints shared in a post on X.
Jaylen Brown’s Future with the Celtics is Up in the Air
GettyJaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on during introductions prior to a game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Game Seven of the First Round of the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs at TD Garden on May 02, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts.
While Brown could very well be traded this offseason, he has remained committed to giving back to the Boston area for as long as he’s in town. Brown has long been a champion for various social justice causes, and no matter where he’s playing basketball, that figures to remain true for however long he’s in the league.
Brown’s work in the community could actually be a reason why the team doesn’t trade him, as he’s been a fantastic example of what it means to be a Celtic from the moment he arrived in town. A lot could happen for Brown this offseason, but you can bet that he is hoping to earn this prestigious award that helps shine a light on the work he’s doing off the court, not on the court.
NBA Makes Jaylen Brown Announcement as Celtics Trade Rumors Swirl