Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s season concluded, but his conflict with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith intensified recently. Brown voiced his opinions on his livestream, responding to Smith’s earlier remarks telling the NBA guard to “be quiet.” Smith’s comments came after Brown accused NBA referees of having an “agenda” against him during the series with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown before game seven of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 2, 2026.
Brown responded on X, stating he would “be quiet” once Smith retired. During his livestream, Brown challenged Smith’s work, claiming, “You’re using your platform to use clickbait.” He suggested Smith’s retirement could lead to a shift toward actual integrity in sports journalism.
Smith previously stirred discussions when he questioned the safety of NBA players in Memphis. This led to a response from Grizzlies guard Ja Morant during a 2024 NBA event.
Brown analyzed a clip of Smith criticizing him for not including Jayson Tatum on his stream. Brown suggested this is why some refer to Smith as a “clown.”
Despite the conflicts, the Celtics’ performance exceeded expectations. Boston played the season without Jayson Tatum due to his Achilles injury. Brown stepped up, participating in 71 games and averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. He highlighted that Smith failed to grasp how leadership and team chemistry fueled the Celtics’ success.
Boston ended the regular season with a 56-26 record, winning the Atlantic Division.
Smith’s previous remarks implied Brown should “be quiet,” suggesting a possible trade demand if he continued to express his dissatisfaction.