Tracy McGrady defends Jaylen Brown from the irrational hate he keeps receiving

Tracy McGrady defends Jaylen Brown from the irrational hate he keeps receiving originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

In the 2025-26 season, the Boston Celtics were without Jayson Tatum for the majority of the season. Most people know him as the team's superstar, so his injury made Jaylen Brown have to step up and prove he belongs in the same category as his running mate.

He did just that, as he had a wonderful campaign in the 2025-26 season. Brown proved he belonged as a star player, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game as the Celtics' number one option amid Tatum's absence.

Now that Brown is on the Philadelphia 76ers, he is on the same team as superstars like LeBron James and Joel Embiid. There will be some sacrifices made along the way for all the 76ers players, so an MVP might be out of the question for every individual there.

That is a bit disappointing for anyone who admired Brown's stardom in the 2025-26 season. However, he will likely settle for his role in a potential title challenger like the 76ers. Despite that wonderful campaign, there were still a lot of people discrediting Brown. 

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As a player who also stood out during his career, Tracy McGrady wanted more people to appreciate what Brown can do. He was baffled by the reactions to the hate that Brown received during the 2025-26 season that netted him an All-NBA Second Team nod.

"Shading him from things that he actually earned. Like, if you look at if anybody would have put up those types of numbers last year under the circumstances with Boston, with JT being out and no expectations for them to do anything in the Eastern Conference," McGrady said on an episode of the Cousins podcast with Vince Carter and guest Jamal Crawford.

"They would have won second, runner-up, or MVP, averaging 28 points and being second in the East, like to place him what fourth or fifth? Is so disrespectful and just nasty work. What we doing out here, man."

History will probably look back on Brown wonderfully. He is one of the best perimeter players of his generation, but it seems the recognition won't come despite his many All-Star nods and a Finals MVP from the 2024 title run.

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