BOSTON — Jaylen Brown has had multiple instances this season where he called out NBA officiating, frustrated with the lack of calls. The most recent time came in the loss to the Nuggets, where Brown said he would’ve loved to get to the free throw line more that night. There have been a few other times, as well, as Brown navigates what it’s like to be the Celtics’ No. 1 option.
Brown spoke about the adjustment when it comes to the officials after the C’s beat the Raptors on Friday. The All-Star spoke about how he needs to block out the officiating some nights.
“Don’t let it cloud my vision: Thinking about the refs, not thinking about making the right play,” Brown said. “So I just got to stay poised. I’m versatile, flexible enough to make it happen. But tonight I was fortunate to get to the line 12 or 13 times. I think that might have been my career-high in free throw attempts. I’m not sure, but it feels good though. It feels good to get to the line.”
Brown has enjoyed a career-best season with Jayson Tatum sidelined, putting up plenty of shots on a nightly basis. But that also means a lot of attention from the opposition and the refs. There were a few times Brown made some cryptic comments about the officiating, including when he said, “I’ll keep my mouth closed.”
So, it’s been a season-long battle for Brown when it comes to the referees. It didn’t slow him down Friday as he went to the free-throw line 13 times against the Raptors. Brown plays a physical style where he looks to get to his spots, so there are some nights where he lives at the charity stripe.
Brown is averaging a career-high 29.6 points per game this season. His midrange game has especially proven to be lethal, getting to show off his shot-making consistently. But there are some nights where he doesn’t get calls, and the frustration is clear. It sounds like Brown, though, is learning how to take the blows when it’s an off-night for him.
“I got to adjust with the game,” Brown said. “Tonight was a night where Toronto was very physical and I was able to get to the line. The day before that wasn’t my best, but night-to-night, things may change. I just got to keep my head on straight. Don’t let it affect my physicality or the way I play.”