Jaylen Brown addressed, for the first time at length, a claim that he forced his way out of Boston — denying this week that he ever demanded a trade from the Celtics or handed the team a list of ultimatums before this summer's blockbuster deal sent him to Philadelphia.

The controversy traces back to Celtics broadcaster and former player Brian Scalabrine, who said on his SiriusXM radio show that Brown brought the Celtics a list of demands over the offseason and wanted to be traded, preferably to the Milwaukee Bucks. Brown's representatives immediately called the claim "10,000% a lie," and a source separately told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Brown never requested a trade from Boston before the deal that sent him and others to the 76ers.

"I love Scal"

Brown finally spoke on the record after the Sixers' win on Wednesday night, according to Philly Voice. "Never had any issues with Scal. I love Scal," Brown said, adding that the broadcaster was "doing what he has to do." But he was direct about the substance of the claim: "I never demanded a trade. Never made a list of ultimatums."

"I HAVE NO INTEREST IN LETTING ANY FALSE ALLEGATIONS FOLLOW ME TO MY NEXT CHAPTER HERE IN PHILADELPHIA."

Scalabrine partially walked back his original claim before a Celtics-Bulls game, saying Brown "technically" didn't demand a trade and that he had "no idea" what specific demands Brown may have made — while still insisting Brown came to the team with some kind of list, floating a possible contract extension as one example. DeMarcus Cousins separately called out Scalabrine on social media over the report.

The deal that sent Brown to Philadelphia was part of a chain reaction touched off when Milwaukee moved to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo: the Bucks ultimately sent Antetokounmpo to the Sixers, who sent Paul George to Milwaukee, with Brown landing in Philadelphia in the broader swap. Jayson Tatum said he was "shocked" by the trade, a reaction Brown has publicly found hard to believe, though both stars have downplayed talk of a feud — Tatum comparing it to the Shaq-Kobe rivalry, Brown suggesting it could end up "lamb chops and gravy" between them. The Celtics and 76ers meet in Philadelphia on Nov. 10.