Jaylen Brown’s Trade and the Red Sox’s Mid-Season Surge: A Boston Sports Coincidence

At 6:13 p.m. ET on July 1, 2024, ESPN reporter Shams Charania announced that Boston Celtics star guard Jaylen Brown was being dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a transaction that returned Paul George and draft picks to Boston. At the same moment, the Red Sox were struggling, sitting 11 games under .500 and last in the American League East after a loss to the Washington Nationals.

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• From June 25 to the All-Star break, Boston posted a 14-2 record.

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• The team then swept the Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets, compiling a nine-game win streak with a +34 run differential.

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• The streak ties for the third-longest in MLB for the 2024 season.

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• Despite the surge, the Red Sox remain 10 games behind the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays and sit a half-game behind the final wild-card spot.

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According to Elias Sports Bureau, Boston has become the first MLB franchise to enter the All-Star break on a win streak of nine or more in consecutive seasons, repeating the feat with a ten-game streak in 2025. The coincidence of Brown’s departure and the baseball club’s momentum has been highlighted by DraftKings analyst Lucy Burdge and NESN’s coverage as a “coincidental silver lining” for Boston fans.

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• “The blockbuster trade of Boston Celtics star guard Jaylen Brown was a painful one for sports fans around Boston, but another team in town has offered a coincidental silver lining to hurting fans -- the Boston Red Sox haven't stopped winning since.” — ESPN article

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• “ET on July 1, ESPN's Shams Charania broke the news that Brown was being dealt to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal that sent Paul George and picks back to the Celtics.” — ESPN article

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• “Per Elias Sports Bureau, Boston is the first team in MLB history to enter the All-Star break on a win streak of nine or more in consecutive seasons -- in 2025, it entered on a 10-game win streak.” — ESPN article

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• “The undefeated run is tied for the third-longest in MLB this season.” — ESPN article

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