Jaylen Brown skips bench during Boston return in preseason game

Jaylen Brown did not join the bench during his first return to Boston since being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The matchup took place this past Saturday in a preseason game, where Brown was reported to be in the locker room. His absence drew criticism from Celtics fans, who expressed their disappointment on social media. There were also reports of an awkward encounter between Brown and his former teammate Jayson Tatum during warmups, with both players failing to acknowledge each other. The 76ers, who also rested stars Joel Embiid and LeBron James, are expected to contend in the Eastern Conference this season, while the Celtics aim for a strong performance under Coach of the Year Joe Mazzulla. Another meeting between the two teams is scheduled for October 16 ahead of their regular-season matchup in November.

• 6:10 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Ducking Us,’ ‘Scared’ — Celtics Fans Mock ‘Dramatic’ Jaylen Brown After Ignoring Jayson Tatum and Skipping Bench in Boston Return