Malcolm Brogdon Discusses Candid Thoughts On His Lone Season With Celtics
Malcolm Brogdon appears to have had a successful 2022–23 season with the Boston Celtics based on the data. While relishing his role as a super-sub for a title contender, he scored 14.9 points and 3.7 assists per game, shot a career-high 44.4 percent from 3-point range, and won NBA Sixth Man of the Year.
Nevertheless, Brogdon’s relationship with the Celtics didn’t exactly work out, and it seems that he doesn’t have many good memories of his time there.
In a recent interview with Jack Quick of The Athletic, Brogdon talked about his October trade from the Boston Celtics to the Portland Trail Blazers, saying he was “eager to move from a place where I wasn’t as appreciated, and move to place where I am much appreciated.”
Does this mean that Malcolm Brogdon didn’t feel appreciated at the Celtics?
Jack Quick was informed by Brogdon.
“After a year of service and the Sixth Man of the Year award, I was sent away. Thus, somewhat… There, I didn’t feel much appreciated. I’m appreciated here. I’m welcomed in Portland. And working with Chauncey (Billups) as a coach has been enjoyable.”
There’s history here: in June, the Boston Celtics attempted to move Brogdon back to the Los Angeles Clippers and Washington Wizards as part of a three-team trade that was intended to send Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, despite Brogdon’s excellent season in Boston.
However, the deal fell through at the last minute, allegedly because the Clippers expressed worries about Brogdon’s right arm ailment. As a result, Boston made a second three-team deal for Porzingis, which resulted in the Memphis Grizzlies receiving Marcus Smart.
As reported by Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe, Malcolm Brogdon was “not happy” about the botched deal and the Clippers disclosing their worries about his health, which caused him and the Celtics to not speak to each other during the summer.
The Boston Celtics moved Brogdon and Robert Williams to Portland in exchange for Jrue Holiday, who became available in late September when the Milwaukee Bucks traded for Damian Lillard.
Both parties gained a lot from that trade: Brogdon is averaging 15.9 points and 5.5 assists per game with a bigger role in Portland, and Holiday’s versatility has been crucial to Boston’s winning record through 48 games in the NBA.
Though he and the Celtics may not have had the desired outcome for his tenure, Brogdon’s C made a significant impact in that 2022–2023 season by stepping down to play backup in order to win. Similar to that Boston team, they are only interested in the success of the team rather than any individual awards.
