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Going into the summer, the Philadelphia 76ers already felt good about how they stacked up against the rest of the Eastern Conference. Coming off a semifinal run, the team had plenty of reason for optimism, and many fans expected them to run it back. But for 76ers President Bob Myers, who has years of experience building championship teams, complacency was not an option, and it led him directly to trade talks for Jaylen Brown. In a recent podcast appearance, the decorated NBA executive looked back on the blockbuster trade and the days that led up to the summer’s biggest roster change. “You start hearing there’s a possibility, and the job then became ‘Is this a real thing?’ with Jaylen Brown… When Brad Stevens responded with ‘What are you offering?’ then you knew that there was a shot. Then it becomes 50 conversations, and both organizations did a great job of not leaking that. I can’t presume to know why they did what they did, but why did we do it? We thought his game, his leadership; we needed an edge, and I think Jaylen Brown sets an edge,” said Myers on the ‘Cousins’ podcast. “To win a championship, you need guys who are of that ilk, who are comfortable being uncomfortable, and he is one of those. I talked to him the day after [the trade] and said, ‘Don’t ever underestimate that you are a champion. And that there is power in that, so use that with this team.’ And I said, ‘We need you to lead, so I’m going to ask you to lead.” If there’s anyone who knows what it takes to win, it’s Myers. While he did not play an active role during the Warriors’ recent championships, he is the one who built the team that dominated the league and changed the entire sport. Under his direction, the Warriors won four championships, powered by key additions like Andre Iguodala and Kevin Durant alongside Stephen Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Myers has not yet matched that success in Philly, but he’s sure making quick progress in less than a year on the job. After watching his team make a respectable playoff push this past summer, he set to work on finding additional star power to help ease the load on Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid. He wasn’t sure the Celtics were willing to give up their former Finals MVP, but his determination paid off with Brown’s arrival, which then led to the signing of LeBron James. As for why Myers was so focused on Brown specifically, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out. In Bob’s eyes, Jaylen has the right approach, attitude, and skill set to deliver in the biggest moments, and he proved that with the Celtics in 2024. Either way, with averages of 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 0.4 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting, Brown’s impact on the floor is undeniable, and his arrival has marked the start of a brand new era for this storied franchise.