NBA guard Jaylen Brown says his financial windfall damaged his closest relationships. On Monday's episode of the "Boardroom" podcast, he discussed how his changed financial situation reshaped his view of money and his interactions with others. His rise to stardom and the money that came with it affected his personal ties.
Brown first drew attention for his basketball ability as a teenager, and that visibility took financial pressure off his family.
"It wasn't necessarily monetary wealth, but you could see wealth was being accumulated," Brown said. "My mom didn't have to pay for camps anymore. At around 13 or 14 years old, I didn't have to pay for basketball sneakers anymore."
He had access to chances that many of his peers did not, especially those who also came from single-parent homes with few resources. As his profile grew, Brown said he noticed jealousy from people around him. Those dynamics became harder to manage as he gained fame and money, and he eventually adopted a stoic mindset to deal with it.
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"Friends, family, they can let you down, man. They can disappoint you in ways and hurt you in ways that it changes you," he said. "The amount of money, the amount of clout, the amount of fame that you're able to acquire puts pressure on the people around you, especially the ones closest to you."
Brown called that adjustment "the hardest part," saying it "puts you on an island, isolates you."
Brown said those strains did not begin with his NBA contract. They started when he was a teenager and his basketball career began to take off. The jealousy he noticed then only intensified as he moved from draft prospect to Celtics player to the recipient of a huge contract.
The Celtics selected Jaylen with the third pick in the 2016 NBA draft. In 2023, he agreed to a five-year, $303.7 million extension with Boston, according to ESPN.
"Conversations become invoices, the lines get blurred, and it gets tough," he said.
Brown also described times when he felt isolated from his support system. People assumed he was the perfect person and could buy whatever he needed, but he could not always handle everything on his own.
"You don't necessarily feel like you can ask for help," he said.
Brown is not the only one who has seen money strain relationships. The wealth, attention, and celebrity that accompanied Brown's rise also created stress for those around him. His experience shows that a sudden change in financial situation can quickly create pressure in friendships and family bonds. Recognizing that dynamic can be the first step toward protecting those relationships.