Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown had a lot to get off his chest.
Less than 24 hours after suffering elimination at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers in a first-round series Boston led 3-1, Brown took to Twitch. On Sunday night, he opened up about several topics — most tied to the team’s historic Game 7 loss, the first time in franchise history the Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead — without mincing words.
Brown averaged 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists against Philadelphia, finishing the series with 33 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three blocks in Game 7 following his campaign for league MVP consideration. He also said he has no regrets about how the season turned out, calling it the most “fun” he’s had in his career.
During the stream, Brown pulled up highlights and replayed several critical moments from Game 7. He also mentioned that going forward, viewers can expect more basketball-focused breakdowns on his livestreams.
He began Sunday night’s debrief with a familiar gripe he’s carried throughout the season.
NBA officiating
Brown led the playoffs with 10 offensive fouls, twice as many as the league’s runner-up (Jalen Duren, Karl-Anthony Towns, Neemias Queta, Stephon Castle).
“I was complaining about officiating, rightfully so,” Brown said. “Because our team finished dead last in getting calls. I was vocal about it, I got thrown out some games, etc. And they keep saying it’s a push off and stuff like that. You know how many players do that? That’s a common basketball play. Every player does it, so why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda. Maybe because I spoke and was critical of the refs in the regular season.”
In the regular season, Brown was called for 40 offensive fouls, second to Towns (65). He never held back, calling officials out — some by name — whenever Brown felt he or the Celtics weren’t held to the same standard as opposing teams across the league. Brown also claimed during his stream, with confidence, that officials had an “agenda” to push, linking it to the offensive foul total.
“I’ve actually spoke to some refs, and they said it was an agenda going into each game. ‘So anytime Jaylen brings his arm up, just from reputation, just call it.’ Like, Paul George does that same thing. Jaylen Brunson does the same thing. Sh*t, I can go down the list. It’s a basketball play, whether y’all believe it or not.”
Brown pointed to a play with 3:23 left in the third quarter, when George extended his right arm to create space from Sam Hauser and drilled a step-back 3, putting the Sixers ahead 79-66.
“It’s a foul on me, but it’s a good play on him. Why you think that is? I’ll let y’all fill in the blank. We got the same trainer.”
For what it’s worth, NBA referee Tyler Ford was selected for Game 7 between Boston and Philadelphia, over a month after an encounter with Brown during a March 10 game against the San Antonio Spurs led to Brown’s ejection by referee Suyash Mehta.
Joel Embiid flopping
Brown doubled down on his claim that Sixers star Joel Embiid, while dominant in the series, flopped to get to the free-throw line.
“Credit to the 76ers, credit to Joel Embiid. I still think he flopped entirely way too much,” Brown said. “Some of y’all don’t even know what flopping is. Like, some of y’all clearly don’t know basketball. You don’t know what flopping is. Flopping is exaggerating contact that’s already there. It’s not about drawing contact or drawing fouls. Nobody has a problem with drawing fouls. That’s a part of the game. Use your brain.”
Embiid attempted 37 free throws after returning in Game 4. Defending him became one of the biggest issues for the Celtics during the series, as coach Joe Mazzulla experimented with nearly everything to slow the 7-footer down. Boston turned to Neemias Queta, Nikola Vučević, and Luka Garza during Games 4 through 6 before giving Brown a chance in Game 7.
However, nothing worked.
Brown said Embiid routinely exaggerated contact, insisting it’s an epidemic affecting the NBA.
“It’s like when someone barely touched you, and you selling the call to make it seem like you just got shot by two police officers. Big difference. Whether you like it, don’t like it, your grandma like it, your grandma don’t like it. I don’t really care. That’s just my personal opinion on basketball. Some of y’all might disagree. Argue with your grandma. Flopping has ruined our game. Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f**king basketball history. He flops. He knows it. This ain’t breaking news.”
Embiid shot 83.8 percent from the charity stripe against Boston.
Fourth-quarter pass to Payton Pritchard — with Neemias Queta wide open
In the fourth quarter, with under three minutes remaining, Brown and the Celtics had a chance to take the lead. Pushing in transition, Brown passed up Queta wide open under the basket and instead kicked it to Payton Pritchard in the corner instead.
Pritchard missed the critical 3-pointer, but Brown insisted it was the right decision.
“Some people would’ve rather me went to Neemi to get the two because the 3-pointers wasn’t going in,” Brown said, “but all season long I’ve been going to Payton Pritchard in the corner.”
At that point, Boston was in dire need of offense. The Celtics missed 11 of their 12 final shot attempts, including 10 straight, and shot 26.5 percent from three in Game 7 — and 33.7 percent for the series.
Brown was money from the mid-range in Game 7, leading many to wonder why he turned to Pritchard with Queta feet ahead of Embiid. He thought about it and admitted perhaps he could’ve assisted Queta instead, but remained adamant that going to Pritchard was the right decision, claiming he’d do it again “10 times out of 10.”
“Maybe I could’ve thrown it to Neemi, for sure. Maybe Embiid could’ve maybe blocked him on the back side, maybe not. But all season long, Payton Pritchard has been that motherf**ker for us — and he still is that motherf**ker for us. So I’m doing that 10 times out of 10. Y’all can go back and keep questioning my playmaking ability or whatever, but I feel like that’s what my gut was telling me.”
Credit to Sixers
Brown took a moment to give the Sixers their flowers, clarifying that Philadelphia’s series win was rightfully theirs.
“Obviously, the season didn’t end the way we want but you gotta take it on the chin,” Brown said. “Give credit where credit is due. So I don’t want to make it seem like I’m not giving them their props… I think (Tyrese) Maxey and (V.J.) Edgecombe are the future. Embiid is a hell of a player. George played incredibly well for their group, and that helped them win the series. They got better. Nick Nurse is a championship-level coach. I give my respect to Philadelphia.”
It had been 44 years since the last time the Sixers eliminated the Celtics in the postseason. Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey joked after Game 7 that he wasn’t even born when asked if he understood the gravity of what Philadelphia had pulled off in Boston.
Final reflection
Brown reiterated his final assessment of the season, labeling it “great” all things considered.
“Great season,” Brown said. “I’m extremely proud of our group. Once again, I’ve been on championship teams, I’ve been on teams going to the Finals. Honestly, this was the most fun season I’ve ever had in basketball, personally. The uncertainty of going into the season, the uncertainty of going into every game — having to fight for every game — just did something emotionally, I feel like, for all of us.”
The Celtics took their circumstance of missing Jayson Tatum for the first 62 games before welcoming him back. They welcomed aboard a handful of newcomers, rookies, and returning players with minimal experience contributing to the team. Still, they made it work for a regular season that’s already secured Mazzulla’s sincere consideration for the NBA’s Coach of the Year award.
As Brown noted, Boston could’ve used Tatum’s injury as a reason to tank — and nobody would blame them. The organization shed payroll and parted ways with Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis, Al Horford, and Luke Kornet as a result. They utilized everyone on the roster, developed a handful of reserves, and showed promise heading into next season despite their catastrophic postseason exit.
“Most people wanted us to tank. Most people still probably wanted us to tank because of the way the season turned out, but you never know how a season is gonna go. All you can ask from the players is give it your all, and that’s what this group did.”
