Boston Celtics
“We’re happy that he got to meet somebody that really inspires him,” the six-year-old’s mother said.
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown sits on the bench during the second half of a preseason NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
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Local first grader Giovanni Jean was distraught when he heard that the Celtics traded his favorite player, Jaylen Brown, to the 76ers.
His tearful reaction, which was uploaded by his mother, has more than 1.1 million likes on Instagram.
On Tuesday, the six-year-old fan was able to catch up with Brown at the five-time All-Star’s summer bridge program at M.I.T.
“I talked to him a lot and I asked him some questions,” Jean said, according to 7News. “We’ve been friends for three years straight. Well, it kind of will be a really long time until we meet again because he’s going to Philly.”
The video shows Jean wearing a No. 7 Brown Celtics jersey offering a message of support for Brown. He held up a handwritten message and asked his mother to put it in the mail for him.
“I love you so much,” Jean said in the video. “You mean a lot to me and you are my favorite player in the whole NBA, and thank you. Thank you everything that you did with the Celtics.”
At the program, which is aimed at offering educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics, and leadership, Jean was able to hand Brown a handwritten letter. The former Celtics star gave Jean a hug.
“Thank you brother,” Brown said to the first-grader who walked up to him wearing a white dress shirt, slacks, and a bowtie while holding a microphone. “I’ve got a question for you. You do media now? I’ve got to watch out for you … we’re going to be friends, alright?”
The six-year-old’s mother, Gigi Jean, told S.B. Nation’s Noa Dalzell that the experience was inspiring.
“We’re happy that he got to meet somebody that really inspires him,” Gigi Jean said. “And he looks to follow Jaylen’s footsteps. He loves education, he loves to learn, he also loves sports. He was very excited; he thought he was going to go somewhere else, so he’s very surprised.”
Last week, Brown said on his Twitch stream that he planned to see Jean before he left.
“Shoutout to little Gio, too man. I’m going to pull up on you bro. It’s all love. You don’t gotta cry man, it’s going to be alright. We’re going to stay locked in. We’re always going to be friends.”
Brown made good on his promise and left the young fan smiling.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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