LAS VEGAS — Derrick White was residence along with his spouse when he came upon that Jaylen Brown, certainly one of his longest-tenured teammates, had been traded.
“It’s powerful to see somebody get traded, and JB’s been a tremendous teammate, superb buddy to me, and type of welcomed me once I received traded to Boston,” he mentioned. “So I’m at all times grateful for my time that I spent with JB, and it’s clearly at all times powerful to get traded, and I understand how that feels.”
White mentioned he reached out to Brown quickly after the commerce with a easy message: “Thanks for every thing you probably did for me.”
Neemias Queta, who has been teammates with Brown for 3 years, additionally spoke to reporters on Friday night time for the primary time for the reason that commerce.
“It’s not simple,” Queta mentioned. “I believe you’re feeling for him. Clearly, it wasn’t simple for him as effectively. However on the finish of the day, it’s a part of the enterprise. You recognize what’s occurring. You recognize it may well occur at any second. However Jaylen’s a man you can’t substitute within the metropolis. Actually, actually arduous to switch on the courtroom as effectively. He did a lot for Boston typically, and he will certainly be missed.”
Like White, Queta reached out to Brown after the commerce, and needed to emphasize to him that he’ll nonetheless be there for him despite the fact that they’ll not reside in the identical metropolis.
“I simply needed to point out him a way of gratitude for pushing me every day, exhibiting that I’m his man,” Queta mentioned. “I’m nonetheless gonna be round. Like something he wants, he can attain out, and we are able to prepare issues. And I believe he simply pushed me to be higher on daily basis simply by his edge and depth. His capacity to corral us as a gaggle was actually, actually particular.”
Hugo Gonzalez shared the ground with Brown for only one season, however incessantly lauded the influence the 5-time All-Star had on him. On Thursday, he shared his gratitude for the overlapping 12 months he shared with Brown.
“Jaylen is a Celtics legend, and all people, [starting with me], is de facto, actually grateful due to the issues he has executed,” Gonzalez mentioned. “Particularly for me, he has been a tremendous veteran participant. He’s been a frontrunner for me. He’s been a job mannequin. Everyone right here is grateful for him.”
