ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith often finds himself in conflicts with NBA personalities, and now it seems Celtics guard Jaylen Brown has joined that list.
This situation kicked off during “First Take,” where Smith expressed his disapproval of Brown’s remarks following Boston’s playoff exit.
Brown described this past season as his “favorite,” despite the Celtics losing a 3-1 series lead against the Philadelphia 76ers, resulting in their elimination in the first round. Smith wasn’t pleased. On Thursday, Brown reflected that perhaps he should’ve kept that sentiment to himself.
“I got knocked out in the first round,” Smith remarked. “The Boston Celtics, one of the greatest franchises in basketball, collapsed a 3-1 lead for the first time in playoff history.”
Smith’s issue wasn’t just with Brown’s comment—it was the timing.
With Boston just out of the playoffs, Jayson Tatum hurting from an Achilles injury, and Brown sidelined, it seemed off for Brown to declare his season as his favorite.
“Just 24 hours after losing a 3-1 lead, he says this was his favorite year,” Smith emphasized. “[They lost] three games at home. Three games at home.”
He further noted the relationship between Brown and Tatum, highlighting that Tatum had appeared on “First Take” before joining Brown’s Twitch stream.
“So Jayson Tatum was on First Take before you were on your own show. How does that happen?” Smith questioned.
The moment that really irritated Brown came next.
“First of all, he needs to shut up and go on vacation unless he’s getting traded,” Smith declared.
Brown quickly shot back, stating, “I’ll ‘quiet’ if you ‘quiet’ and retire. I’ll stop streaming to give the people what they want,” which gained traction online.
In his response, Brown seemed to challenge Smith, suggesting that the public had heard enough from him, and maybe it was time to step down from the mic.
But Smith wasn’t about to back down without defending himself.
“Brother, I’m not going to go there because I care about you,” he responded. “People care about you, and you don’t realize it. Here you are making noise less than a week after blowing a 3-1 lead. You’re home.”
Smith made his point clear.
“The champion and Finals MVP says his favorite season was the one where he was home in the first round. This isn’t about me; it’s about you. Enjoy the offseason.”
To be fair, Smith’s basketball critique makes sense.
Brown is entitled to his feelings about the season. Maybe he appreciated the challenges or the camaraderie within the team. Perhaps there’s more to what he meant than what’s being perceived.
However, when you’re the Finals MVP for the Celtics and the team just suffered a major playoff collapse, claiming it was your “favorite season” probably doesn’t sit well with many, especially devoted Celtics fans.
This sentiment holds even more weight considering this was the first time in history the franchise blew a 3-1 lead in the playoffs, and they were a No. 2 seed in the East. The Celtics have now become the fourth No. 2 seed to be eliminated in the first round in the past 25 years. It was a historic and baffling downfall for a team that had its eyes set on the championship, a context where players don’t typically refer to their season as their “favorite.”
At the same time, it’s understandable why many on social media related to Brown’s reaction.
Smith has made a career out of critiquing what athletes should or shouldn’t say, often advising them on their communication. In this instance, Brown essentially turned that back on him.
Brown’s pushback indicates a growing trend among NBA stars who no longer want to remain silent while Smith discusses them. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kyrie Irving have all had their own public exchanges with Smith over the years, and now, Brown has decided he won’t sit by quietly.
Unfortunately for Brown, this dynamic primarily benefits Smith. His public feuds with major NBA players amplify the perception that he deserves a response. By engaging with Smith, Brown inadvertently affirms his relevance in a way Smith may not need validation.
Clearly, Smith isn’t going anywhere; he’s not about to take early retirement because of Brown’s comments. He’ll continue to express himself passionately.
But for a brief moment, Brown articulated what many athletes—and likely numerous sports fans—have wanted to voice to Smith for years.
Quietly.
