PHILADELPHIA — Jaylen Brown scored in a Sixers uniform for the first time Monday, prompting Philadelphia to immediately revise its internal preseason expectations from “let’s see how this looks” to “there is absolutely no reason this cannot end with a parade.”
Brown impressed in his preseason debut as Philadelphia beat New York 120–97, while VJ Edgecombe also drew attention handling point-guard responsibilities with several Sixers stars sitting.
The reaction began approximately four possessions into the game.
By halftime, local analysts had identified improved spacing, championship-level versatility and at least three lineup combinations that would definitely work against Oklahoma City in June.
Team officials attempted to remind everyone that it was preseason. Philadelphia declined.
Brown, who spent years scoring against the Sixers, has already discovered the primary advantage of playing for them: those points now produce applause instead of several thousand people questioning why nobody picked him up in transition.
The organization is particularly encouraged by Brown’s early chemistry with Edgecombe, who has apparently advanced from promising young player to essential component of a future dynasty over the course of one exhibition game.
Coaches remain focused on incremental progress. Fans have begun examining parade routes. The Sixers play another preseason game soon, at which point all conclusions will either be confirmed permanently or discarded by the middle of the first quarter.
