Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has discussed a potential future in combat sports, including UFC or boxing, following his NBA career. The 29-year-old five-time All-Star revealed talks with UFC CEO Dana White during NBA All-Star media day. Brown, who incorporated Muay Thai into his training two years ago, credits it with enhancing his performance on the court.
Jaylen Brown, at the peak of his NBA career with the Boston Celtics, is already planning for life after basketball. The 29-year-old forward shared his interest in transitioning to combat sports during media day at the NBA All-Star event. "I've toyed with this," Brown said. "I've talked to some people. Maybe the post part of my career, I would love to partake in something like UFC or even boxing. I've talked to Dana White about some stuff. But we'll see as things go on. We'll see."
Brown began practicing martial arts two years ago and has since integrated Muay Thai into his basketball regimen. He noted that it has improved both his physical conditioning and mental sharpness, aiding his play in the contact-heavy NBA. On the court, Brown's aggressive style sometimes leads to scuffles, providing outlets for his training. "It's kind of exciting when you get in the moment to have a little bit of controversy," he explained. "Sometimes it's not even that big of a deal, but we've got emotional dudes, we've got passionate dudes about this game. Some of that stuff is going to happen. You get in between the margins, you're throwing 'bows. That stuff, that's a part of the game to some degree."
Currently, Brown is thriving as the Celtics' centerpiece, with the team at No. 2 in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break. He is averaging career highs of 29.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game, while leading the league in field goals made and attempted. This surge follows Jayson Tatum's Achilles tear in last postseason, which may sideline the teammate for the entire 2025-26 season. Despite his strong present, Brown anticipates ample time left in basketball before any shift to the Octagon.
