Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown expressed strong dissatisfaction with the officiating in his team’s seven-game first-round loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, speaking out during a Twitch stream on Sunday. He suggested the officials had an agenda against him and also took aim at Sixers star Joel Embiid.
“Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in basketball history. But he flops. He know it,” Brown said. “This ain’t breaking news. It is what it is.”
Brown highlighted what he saw as inconsistent calls, showing a clip of Sixers forward Paul George appearing to push off on a play. He questioned why similar actions by him resulted in offensive fouls while others went uncalled.
“Every good basketball player does this,” Brown said. “They clearly had an agenda. If Jaylen does this move, call the offensive foul… I don’t know if it’s because I pissed the refs off.”
Brown was whistled for 10 offensive fouls in the series, more than any other player. During the regular season, he ranked second league-wide with 40 offensive fouls. He mentioned being vocal about officiating in the past and felt it may have impacted how he was treated in the playoffs.
Foul totals in the series were close overall, with the Celtics called for 136 personal fouls and the 76ers for 132. Brown specifically pointed to three referees from the later games as ones he believed needed review.
The comments come after the Celtics were eliminated in a tough series against Philadelphia, capping a disappointing postseason run for the defending Eastern Conference champions. Brown’s remarks reflect the high emotions following the team’s exit.