Tyrese Maxey thought he knew what Jaylen Brown was. After xix seasons of guarding him, a seven-game playoff series against him last spring, and countless nights game-planning around him had built a fairly complete picture. Then the Philadelphia 76ers traded for him, and a few days of sharing a practice floor corrected the whole thing.

“I think you just see it up close,” Maxey said in a press conference. “I've seen it a million times, I feel like I played against Jaylen so many times. But when you're with somebody every single day, it's different.”

Tyrese Maxey on Jaylen Brown: “JB’s, like, physically a freak of nature. He's just stronger than you. He jumps higher than you. He's faster than you and he's very talented.” pic.twitter.com/LBozzblgrX

— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) September 30, 2026

What stands out is the physical profile. “JB's physically like a freak of nature, he's just strong,” Maxey said. “He's stronger than you, he jumps higher than you, he's faster than you, and he's very talented. Those are the things that you see every single day.”

The part Maxey did not expect was everything around the athleticism. “What stood out to me so far is his communication, his willingness to pick up the ball defensively,” he said. “Kind of just do whatever coach needs him to do right now, and he's just figuring it out.”

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Maxey also acknowledged how strange the transition must be. Brown spent his entire first 10 seasons in Boston before July's blockbuster sent him to Philadelphia for Paul George and four draft picks. “Imagine being somewhere for 11 years and coming here,” Maxey said. “It seems like you're trained to hate. So it's been great, especially we just beat them.”

That last part carries weight. Philadelphia eliminated Boston in seven games in the first round last spring, meaning Brown's final act as a Celtic was losing to the team he now plays for.

Brown has said the trade took time to process, admitting he threw his phone across the room when he first heard. Maxey was among the first to reach out, and Brown has credited that call with easing the landing.

The fit is what Philadelphia is banking on. Brown is coming off the best season of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists on the way to All-NBA Second Team honors, and his arrival helped convince LeBron James to sign in free agency.