Jaylen Brown’s Boxing Debut Raises a Bigger Question for the Sixers

The NBA continues to be the best reality show on television, as the new Philadelphia Sixers star, Jaylen Brown, made his boxing debut this week in Nigeria. Yes, you read that right: 29-year-old Jaylen Brown, who will be making $57.7 million in the NBA this year, decided this offseason that he would get in the ring and give boxing a go.

Brown comes from a boxing family, as his father was a former professional with 52 bouts in his career. He also got into other combat sports like Muay Thai, something he credits for his durability over the last few years. Also, I’m sure being around Joe Mazzulla on the Celtics the last few years probably only added fuel to the fire for him getting into the ring.

I think it’s great that Brown has found a hobby outside of basketball that helps keep him in shape and supports him mentally, but there is no universe where he should be competing in an actual boxing match while actively playing in the NBA. I mean, LeBron James’ offseason decision revolved around the 76ers acquiring Brown.

Everything in life comes with risk, but when you’re currently signed to a contract where you’ll earn over a quarter of a billion dollars, you don’t get to be a pro boxer until your career ends. Not only are you just being dumb with your own career, you’re being selfish to your teammates as well.

Whatever your feelings are towards LeBron, he’s one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen on a basketball court. This stint with the Sixers is likely the end of the line, and if that’s the case then he’s going to need as much support as possible. We know now that Brown was fine from his glorified sparing session, but it’s taking on unneeded risk right before the season starts, and that’s completely idiotic.

There’s a reason quarterbacks in the NFL contractually aren’t allowed to drive motorcycles. It’s not that everyone thinks all quarterbacks are going to crash and die, it’s just unnecessary risk, and a preventable measure added for what is a very an incredibly valuable asset.

Things like this are why I just don’t buy the Sixers being good this year. They can’t stay healthy, they all need the ball, and each player needs to have their name in the headlines. There’s no way a team like that is getting past a healthy Knicks team in the playoffs.