Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has been hit with a substantial financial penalty by the National Basketball Association, just days after he publicly challenged the quality of league officiating.
The Fine and the Criticism
On Monday, James Jones, the NBA’s Executive Vice President and Head of Basketball Operations, issued a $35,000 fine to Brown for what the league termed ‘public criticism of the officiating’. This action came swiftly after the Celtics' 100-95 home defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday.
Following the game, a visibly frustrated Brown did not hold back in his assessment of the referees' performance. He expressed particular dismay that his team attempted only four free throws, while the Spurs went to the line 20 times, making 14. "I thought it was some bulls*** tonight," Brown told reporters. "They're a good defensive team, but they ain't that damn good."
Brown's Defiant Stance
The 29-year-old All-Star and 2024 NBA Finals MVP was fully aware his comments would likely result in a sanction. "I'll accept the fine at this point," he stated defiantly. "Every time we play a good team the inconsistency is crazy. I'll take the f***ing fine."
Brown went so far as to single out one official by name, criticising referee Curtis Blair directly. "Curtis and all those dudes were terrible tonight," he said. "I don't care. They can fine me whatever they want." The NBA has a long-standing policy against players publicly disparaging officials, often enforcing fines for such conduct and for the use of profanity in media interviews.
Fan Reaction and Financial Context
The fine, while significant, represents a relatively small portion of Brown's earnings. He is in the first year of a supermax contract, earning $53 million this season alone, with career earnings exceeding $200 million. This context sparked a mix of sympathy and wry commentary from fans on social media platform X.
One user noted, "I mean that's relative pocket change for an NBA player but still sucks," while another observed, "The fine is a teachers salary. This world isn't real." Many supporters agreed with Brown's sentiment, posting variations of "He's not wrong!" and "They always penalise honesty."
Some critics, however, pointed to Boston's playing style as a factor in the free-throw disparity. The Celtics lead the league in three-point attempts alongside the Golden State Warriors, averaging 42.8 per game. As one comment read, "When you shoot 60 threes a game, you tend to get less free throws than the other team." In the game in question, both teams attempted 44 shots from beyond the arc.
The incident underscores the ongoing tension between players and officiating in the NBA, and the league's firm stance on maintaining public respect for its referees, regardless of a player's stature or salary.
