Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been handed a substantial financial penalty by the NBA, just days after he publicly dared the league to take action against him for his comments about the referees.
The Fine and the Official Reason
The league's Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, James Jones, issued the fine on Monday. The official statement cited 'public criticism of the officiating' as the reason for the $35,000 penalty. This came after Brown's explosive post-game remarks following the Celtics' 100-95 home defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Brown's Explosive Post-Game Comments
Frustrated by the fact his team attempted only four free throws compared to the Spurs' 20, the 29-year-old MVP candidate did not hold back. 'I'll accept the fine at this point,' Brown told reporters. He went on to describe the officiating as 'some bulls***' and questioned the consistency when playing top teams.
'They're a good defensive team, but they ain't that damn good,' Brown stated. 'It's the same s*** every time we play a good team. It's like they refuse to make a call, then they call touch fouls on the other end.' In a move that likely compounded the issue, Brown singled out one official by name, saying, 'Curtis [Blair] and all those dudes were terrible tonight.' He defiantly concluded, 'I'll take the f***ing fine.'
Fan Reaction and Financial Perspective
While the fine is a significant sum, it represents a fraction of Brown's $53 million salary for this season. Fans on social media platform X were quick to comment on the juxtaposition. One user noted, 'I mean that's relative pocket change for an NBA player but still sucks,' while another pointed out, 'The fine is a teachers salary. This world isn't real.'
Many supporters sympathised with Brown's stance, with several posting variations of 'He's not wrong!' and 'They always penalise honesty.' However, some critics argued the Celtics' style of play, which leads the league in three-point attempts alongside the Golden State Warriors with an average of 42.8 per game, naturally results in fewer trips to the free-throw line.
The NBA has a consistent policy of fining players for using profanity in interviews and publicly criticising officials. Recently, Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green was fined $25,000 for a similar offence. For a star of Brown's calibre, with career earnings exceeding $200 million, the financial sting is minimal, but the league's message regarding public comments on officiating remains clear.
