During a recent appearance on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” Jaylen Brown used the opportunity to address a controversy that had surrounded him over the summer. Back in May 2024, during the Celtics’ playoff run, Stephen A. Smith had shared comments from an unnamed NBA source who claimed that Brown was not well-liked around the league and was not as marketable as he should be due to his perceived attitude.
“I couldn’t wait to address this unnamed source. Right. I know they probably will be watching this because people like that are always watching. And I wanted to let them know that I had a great summer. Like, just as simple as that.”
“Like, I traveled the world. I went to UMRA. I won two MVPs… Launched Black Wall Street in Oakland. And made a music video. I had a blast. So I wanted to let them know that I had a great summer.”
“I really wanted to address them directly, but I feel like since this all kind of happened on your platform, I wanted to send a message to you, to them, because you’re only the person that knows who the source is.”
“I basically wanted to say to them that I think it’s cowardice. I think historically, unnamed sources have attacked some of our greats. I/we are not responsible for what they lack and design. Frankly, they can call all their buddies, pals, and friends from all over the world, all the unnamed sources and they can shove it where they got it from.”
“Whether they think I’m marketable or not, I walk with God, I’m gonna be me and stand with my community in this life and the next and that’s my journalistic integrity. I wanted to get that off my chest.”
“Like they didn’t just say that I wasn’t liked, they said I wasn’t marketable, they said I was arrogant, I carried myself with a certain demeanor, and that line gets crossed between critiquing someone’s performance, not liking them for whatever reason, and then attacking someone’s character.”
“I think journalistic integrity requires it to go both ways. I never had a chance to respond or defend myself, one, because they’re never going to reveal themselves, and two, the damage is already done. So, what I’m speaking to is the unnamed sources.”
“Like, I can, like, if you speak on it, you say something, because we have a relationship, at least I can look at you and we can go back and forth about what it is that we believe or what it is that we don’t believe. Unnamed source, like what is that? You know, and to be honest, it reminds me, I think it has familiarity with when I was entering the draft.”
“An unnamed source Said that I was too smart to be a basketball player or something like that and that would hurt my draft stock because it was a form of questioning authority and This source this unnamed source we now have said back in 2016.”
“This source kind of reminds me of that as well. I actually figured out who that source was, but I know because of your credentials, your background, your journalistic integrity, we’re never going to figure out who that one is.”
Jaylen Brown, who has always been outspoken and confident, took issue with these statements, and on Smith’s show, he finally had a chance to confront the situation head-on. The comments from the unnamed source were particularly hurtful to Brown because they crossed a line from critiquing his on-court performance to questioning his character and marketability.
According to the source, Brown had a “better-than-you” attitude, which allegedly made him less appealing from a marketing perspective. Brown found these attacks personal and baseless, especially since the source chose to remain anonymous.
He emphasized that the issue wasn’t about legitimate criticism but rather about how the media could sometimes blur the lines between assessing performance and launching personal attacks. Throughout his career, Brown has faced various challenges, including being labeled as “too smart” for basketball when he entered the NBA draft in 2016. He recalled how similar attacks followed him at that time and how the current situation reminded him of those earlier challenges.
Brown expressed that he had figured out who the unnamed source from 2016 was, but he acknowledged that, due to Smith’s journalistic background, it was unlikely that the identity of this new source would ever be revealed.
During the show, Brown also presented Smith with a shirt that had the phrase “State Your Source” printed on it, a clear nod to his frustration with anonymous claims being made without accountability. Brown had previously demanded that Smith reveal the source when the comments first came to light in May, but Smith, in line with journalistic ethics, has maintained the confidentiality of his sources.
Ultimately, Brown’s appearance on the show was not just about addressing the controversy but also about setting the record straight. He expressed his determination to continue walking his own path, both as a basketball player and as an advocate for his community.
Brown’s response was clear: he refuses to let anonymous criticisms dictate his self-worth or his actions. Now that he has had the opportunity to address the matter publicly, Brown is focused on leading the Celtics as they pursue another NBA championship. As one of the best players in the league, he will let his actions on the court do the talking, proving his value in more ways than one.
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