Podcast host Bill Simmons shared a vivid, if disoriented, reaction to the news of Jaylen Brown's trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, which he learned shortly after undergoing a colonoscopy. Simmons described the experience on his podcast, recalling that his wife informed him of the trade as she picked him up from the procedure on Wednesday.
"I think I’m dead. I think I died. The anesthesia killed me," Simmons stated on The Bill Simmons Podcast, recounting his initial thoughts upon hearing the news. He described feeling as though he had a "head injury" and was struggling to process the information.
Simmons further elaborated on the surreal circumstances, saying, "When this trade happened, I had a camera up my ass, and I had Paul George rammed up my ass. That’s how I’m going to remember July 1, 2026." He noted that his daughter, a significant fan of Brown's, was also distressed by the news.
The trade, which sent Brown to the 76ers in exchange for Paul George and two first-round and two second-round draft picks, occurred while Simmons was leaving the hospital. The first-round picks are reportedly for 2028 and 2031, with second-rounders for 2028 and 2030.
Brown had spent 10 seasons with the Celtics, earning Finals MVP honors in 2024 and averaging over 20 points per game since the 2019-20 season. His departure from Boston follows earlier trade rumors involving other prominent players. George, who averaged 17.3 points per game with the 76ers last season, now faces the task of filling the void left by Brown.