It’s not just basketball fans who will miss Jaylen Brown.

When Brown signed his contract with the Celtics in 2016, one of the largest contracts in NBA history, he set out to create a “Black Wall Street” in Boston.

Greater Boston has had a long and persistent racial wealth disparity. A 2015 study found the median net worth of Black Bostonians is eight dollars, compared to the median white net worth of $247,500, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.

To bridge this gap, Brown created the Boston XChange (BXC), which aims to generate $5 billion in new net wealth for historically marginalized communities by providing resources and support to entrepreneurs and creators.

After Brown’s trade to the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this month, some nonprofit leaders said Brown’s absence will be felt by the city off the court.

“Part of belonging is seeing yourself not only in neighborhoods, but in the center of the city,” said Imari Paris Jeffries, president and CEO of Embrace Boston. “I think [Brown] understood that, especially as an outsider or as a newcomer to the city.”

Brown’s key initiative through BXC is the Boston Creator Incubator and Accelerator. The entrepreneurship program offers up to $100,000 in grant funding and offices, maker spaces and business services valued at over $150,000.

“I feel like the biggest component to that was really more so the educational part, but also being in a room with other likeminded people,” said Rui Lopes, cofounder and chief executive officer of Anawan Studio and part of the accelerator’s inaugural cohort.

The Brockton film studio received $100,000 in unrestricted grant funding as part of the program, as well as mentorship and access to a network of experienced entrepreneurs.

Plenty of high-profile athletes launch personal foundations or partner with charity organizations. But with Brown, “you can tell that it’s very genuine,” Lopes said.

Jeffries, who first met Brown at a gathering of men at the ‘Quin House, described him as “just a regular guy,” despite his basketball fame.

“I knew that he was a person who was genuinely interested in being a part of Boston,” Jeffries said.

“I hope we don’t have any more heartbreaks like this,” Jeffries said. “In a way, we have a native son, who I think a lot of us were hoping would retire here. So, maybe there’s an opportunity for him to come back.”

Brown affirms off-court commitment to Boston

Brown grew up in Marietta, Georgia, before heading off to play basketball for the University of California, Berkeley.

But despite the move to Philadelphia, he said that BXC will continue to do its work in Boston.

“As Jaylen Brown begins a new chapter in his NBA career, one thing remains unchanged: the promise we made to the city of Boston,” a statement on the BXC Instagram said. “Our commitment to this community was never defined by a contract, a jersey, or a moment in time.”

Brown’s investment in Boston didn’t start with his innovation incubator. In 2019, he established his 7uice Foundation, which works to bridge the opportunity gap for youth in traditionally underserved communities.

“He’s really holistically helping to change Boston from the youth all the way up to adulthood,” Lopes said.

The day after his trade was made official, Brown attended the kick off of 7uice’s Bridge Program, a multi-day educational and leadership initiative for underserved youth in grades held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

“I want to say there’s nothing to be sad about,” Brown said at the event. “There’s a lot of opportunities that I will still be able to fulfill here.

This story first appeared in the Boston Business Journal.