The Philadelphia 76ers have made an impressive start to the 2026-27 NBA season, but Jaylen Brown believes there is still plenty of room for improvement.

Ahead of a highly anticipated matchup against his former team, the Boston Celtics, the 2024 Finals MVP has challenged his new teammates to build better habits and develop a stronger identity.

Jaylen Brown Wants More From the 76ers Despite Their Strong Start to the Season

In an exclusive published on CLNS Media on Sunday, Brown acknowledged the progress Philadelphia has made but made it clear that the team cannot depend on individual talent alone.

“We are predominantly, surviving off of talent, but as we develop in that structure and that chemistry, we’ll get better,” Brown said. “We just gotta keep taking steps forward, but we’re not where we want to be right now and I’m gonna keep challenging us to get better.”

His comments come despite the 76ers sitting atop the East. Philadelphia improved to 9-2 after beating the Chicago Bulls 127-121 on Sunday, with Brown, Tyrese Maxey and LeBron James combining for 78 points.

The individual numbers help explain why Brown believes the team has been getting by on its talent.

Maxey is leading Philadelphia with 26.9 points per game, while Brown is adding 22.3 points on 47.7% shooting from the field. Joel Embiid is averaging 17.9 points and 9.7 rebounds, while James is contributing 15.6 points and 6.7 assists.

There is no shortage of star power. However, Philadelphia’s offense has not been as impressive as its record suggests, ranking 20th in offensive rating, while the defense ranks 6th.

That defensive strength has helped the team win games even as its offensive system continues to take shape.

The franchise has not won an NBA championship since 1983, and its new-look roster has the talent to make a serious run. Brown, the 2024 Finals MVP, has experienced what it takes to win a title and will be expected to help lead that effort.

The Celtics will provide an early test. Boston is also off to a strong start, entering the matchup with an 8-2 record and sitting second in the East.

The meeting on Tuesday will be the first regular-season game between the two teams since Brown was traded from Boston to Philadelphia in July.

That deal also brought attention to the relationship between Brown and Jayson Tatum. After Brown’s departure, Tatum said he was caught off guard by the trade and had reached out to his former teammate by phone and text.

Brown responded to Tatum’s account with a cap emoji, prompting speculation about tension between the two. The Celtics star later insisted there was no animosity and said their shared achievements deserved more attention than the speculation.

Brown has since said he does not want to keep discussing the trade.

“It’s over with now, so I think everybody’s just focused on what’s in front of us,” Brown said.

For now, that means focusing on improving Philadelphia. The 76ers may be leading the East, but Brown is already asking them to look beyond their record and build the habits of a team capable of winning when the stakes are much higher.