Jaylen Brown is already one of the NBA’s brightest superstars and an MVP candidate this season with the Boston Celtics. But that’s far from all he’s doing. On Tuesday, ClutchPoints reporter Kris Pursiainen dropped a bombshell: Brown has been named owner and general manager of Team Atlanta in Tracy McGrady’s revived Ones Basketball League (OBL).
Tracy McGrady, the NBA Hall of Famer, personally confirmed the news, calling Brown a “special leader” whose deep ties to Atlanta made him the perfect choice for the city’s franchise.
This isn’t just another side hustle or passive investment. Brown is stepping into a hands-on leadership role in a league built to take basketball back to its raw, competitive roots—one-on-one battles that celebrate individual skill, city pride, and pure hoop culture.
What is the Ones Basketball League?
The OBL has been on hiatus since 2022, but McGrady is bringing it back stronger than ever with “Battle of the Cities.” The league launches in May 2026 and features eight teams representing eight different cities. Each team consists of three elite players who go head-to-head in intense 1-on-1 matchups.
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It’s a fresh, high-stakes format that taps into the growing popularity of smaller-sided basketball (think 3-on-3 at the Olympics and the success of the women’s Unrivaled league). McGrady wants to spotlight the swagger, creativity, and street-ball essence that made the game great, while giving it a global platform.
Before this announcement, seven owner/GMs were already locked in:
- Jadakiss (New York)
- John Wall (Raleigh)
- Muggsy Bogues (Baltimore)
- Tim Hardaway Sr. (Miami)
- Quinn Cook (Washington DC)
- Larenz Tate (Chicago)
- Vince Carter (Orlando)
Now, Jaylen Brown completes the star-studded lineup as the owner/GM for Team Atlanta—his hometown roots (growing up in Marietta, just outside the city) making the fit seamless. He’s also close with Tracy McGrady, who has long been a mentor and inspiration to him.
Why Jaylen Brown is the perfect fit
Brown has always been more than just an elite scorer and defender. He’s a thoughtful ambassador for the game, deeply invested in culture, leadership, and expanding basketball’s impact beyond the NBA. By joining forces with McGrady and other legends, he’s getting in on the ground floor of a project that could reshape how the sport is experienced and celebrated.
Celtics fans don’t need to worry—Brown won’t be lacing up to play in the OBL. But once Boston’s season wraps up, expect to see him heavily involved in league events, supporting his Atlanta squad and helping drive the vision forward.
This move mirrors the groundbreaking path laid by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier with their successful Unrivaled league. It shows Brown’s ambition to build something lasting while still thriving at the highest level in the NBA.
The timing couldn’t be better. The NBA is booming, Brown is reaching new heights on the court, and he continues to expand his influence off it—championing causes he believes in and now helping revolutionize the game he loves.
It’s exciting news for basketball fans everywhere. The only downside? We won’t get to watch Jaylen Brown himself dominate in those raw 1-on-1 battles.
But with him steering Team Atlanta, the OBL is about to get a massive boost of star power, credibility, and vision. This is more than ownership—it’s Jaylen Brown helping lead a movement to take basketball back to its essence while pushing it into the future.