Jaylen Brown added an unexpected highlight to his first offseason as a Philadelphia 76er, stepping into a boxing ring in Lagos as video of the session spread online this week.
Traded from the Boston Celtics in July, Brown was in Nigeria with his nonprofit, the 7uice Foundation, when he took part in a public sparring bout on Tuesday at the NIS Gymnasium. The foundation posted footage with the caption, “The metaphor is you gotta fight for what you want!”
Brown later wrote that he had “0 prep” for the matchup.
Both fighters wore headgear. Brown boxed from a southpaw stance, landing a sharp jab and slipping a left hook while taking at least one blow to the midsection. Accounts described the session as exhibition sparring rather than a sanctioned fight.
Some observers compared the ring walk to a Rocky scene as Brown prepares to start over in Philadelphia. Combat sports also run in his family. His father, Quenton Marselles Brown, is a former professional heavyweight and WBU champion.
Brown has trained in Muay Thai and said at All-Star Weekend that he has spoken with UFC president Dana White and could pursue boxing or mixed martial arts after his NBA career.
The clip surfaced about three weeks before the 76ers’ training camp. Brown also hosted a youth basketball camp during the trip.
Philadelphia has not publicly commented. Under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement, injuries suffered while boxing can strip certain contract protections.
