Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been a trending topic ever since the Celtics were eliminated in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Brown enjoyed the season despite the disappointing ending, calling it his favorite.
The comment started a war of words between Brown and media adversary Stephen A. Smith. The Battle may continue following Brown’s latest comments regarding Smith’s conduct.
Jaylen Brown Blasts Stephen A. Smith And ESPN Over Celtics Comment Backlash
While discussing his controversial favorite season comment in Cannes, Brown blasted Smith and the network that employs him, ESPN. Smith said “The leader behind that was ESPN. ESPN is unethical, and Stephen A. Smith is the head face of that. The organization, the players, they were all in agreeiance, they all knew what I meant by that.”
Jaylen Brown in Cannes at Sport Beach today speaking on the situation ❗️ pic.twitter.com/VroszzyV7c
— vic (@CountOnVic) June 24, 2026
Brown’s stance is clear. With fellow All-NBA teammate Jayson Tatum set to miss most of the season, along with notable departures like Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis, nearly every preseason projection had the Celtics fighting to stay in the Play-In Tournament race.
Instead, Brown had the best season of his career, and the Celtics finished the regular season with the second-best record in the East.
Smith believes the early playoff loss to the Philadelphia 76ers should have left a sour taste in Brown’s mouth, and the fact it didn’t spoke to a larger issue between Brown and the organization. Smith alluded to publicly mentioning some of those issues after Brown told him to retire.
It’s highly likely Smith will respond following Brown’s latest comments. Perhaps Smith will reveal a candid scoop. He’s alluded in the past to Brown not being well-liked by some parts of the Celtics organization, as well as a potential rift between Brown and Tatum.
Brown’s future with the Celtics will continue to be discussed moving forward, especially after reports revealed Brown may have been on the table as the Celtics pursued Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ultimately landed with the Miami Heat.
MORE: ‘A Knife In His Back’ – NBA Champion Claims Jaylen Brown’s Celtics Career Is Officially ‘Over’
Some insiders may wonder whether Brown’s declaration that ESPN is unethical could prompt pushback from the network. Brown isn’t afraid to speak his mind and criticize powerful companies, something that may have cost him a spot on Team USA’s 2024 Olympic roster.
It remains clear that Brown’s issues with Smith remain far from being resolved.
