Jaylen Brown labels ESPN as ‘unethical’ following conflict with Stephen A. Smith

Jaylen Brown Criticizes ESPN and Stephen A. Smith

Jaylen Brown’s issues with ESPN seem far from resolved. During a recent speech at Sports Beach in Cannes, France, the Celtics star didn’t hold back, once again addressing the backlash he faced for calling the previous season his “favorite.”

“The leader behind it was ESPN,” Brown stated emphatically. “ESPN is unethical.”

He directed some sharp words at Stephen A. Smith, who has been a prominent figure in the media dialogue surrounding Brown. “Stephen A. Smith is the head and the face of it,” he remarked.

Brown’s frustration appears rooted in comments he made about his enjoyment of the season despite the Celtics’ early playoff exit at the hands of the 76ers. This drew criticism from Smith, who suggested Brown should “keep quiet” and “go on vacation” unless he planned on requesting a trade, which understandably upset Brown.

On Wednesday, Brown noted that, within the Celtics organization, everyone understood his comments and their implications. “The organization, the players, everyone was in agreement. They all knew what I meant,” he asserted.

He also shed light on the current state of the Celtics roster and the changes they’ve faced. “Our team basically had their payroll thrown out,” he pointed out, highlighting a significant loss of players. “For us to emerge and be in the same position…”

These latest remarks follow a previous outburst from Brown on a Twitch livestream where he had called for Smith to retire, alleging he doesn’t engage in “real journalism.” In response, Smith cautioned Brown to “be careful what you wish for” as tensions between them escalated.

The whole situation began after the Celtics faced an unexpected playoff exit, but Brown has since explained why he sees the season differently than many outside the organization. Despite the disappointment, he ended the season strong, averaging a career-high 28.7 points and earning his fourth consecutive All-Star selection, even as his team faltered against Philadelphia after leading the series 3-1.