BOSTON — Jaylen Brown has had multiple instances this season where he’s disagreed with the officiating. But after the Celtics lost to the Spurs on Saturday, the C’s star lit up the referees as his frustration boiled over. Brown doubled down after his comments, posting on social media: “Fine me I’m sick of this (expletive).”
Brown pointed to multiple areas, including that he thought the Celtics were called for touch fouls against the Spurs. He also talked about how he didn’t get any free throw attempts on the night as the C’s got four attempts total. The Spurs, in comparison, had 20 free throw attempts.
Here are his full comments on the officiating after the loss:
“I feel like, honestly, they just got away with a lot, and I’m tired of the inconsistency. I’ll accept the fine at this point. I thought it was some (expletive) tonight. I think they’re a good defensive team, but they ain’t that damn good. I hope somebody can just pull up the clips because it’s the same (expletive) every time we play a good team.
“It’s like they refuse to make a call. Then call touch falls on the other end. That’s just extremely frustrating, bro, like we play hard. We were outplaying our expectations. We compete hard on the defensive end. Then they reward the other team with touch fouls. Then we go down there and guys are allowed to get away with — I hope, just somebody please pull it up. Every time we play a good team, the inconsistency is crazy. I’ll take the (expletive) fine.
“Curtis (Blair), those dudes was terrible tonight. I don’t care. They can fine me whatever they want. But it’s crazy. Every time we play a good team, it’s the same (expletive). Somebody please pull up the clips. I’m irate at how they officiated the game today. If we can’t get to the free throw line and teams are allowed to be physical and bump us off our spots, etc., then it’s hard to win games like that.
“We shot four free throws tonight and lost the game by four. Not to say that’s the whole game, the whole story. We gotta be better in spots. I gotta be better in spots. But (expletive). I’m driving to the basket. I’m physical. I don’t flop. I don’t shy away from contact. I go up strong. I’m athletic. And nothing. Zero free throws tonight. The inconsistency is (expletive) crazy. Give me the fine.”
Brown wasn’t sure why the officiating is different this season, but it’s been a noticeable uptick in him commenting about the refs. After the win over the Raptors on Friday, just one night before the Spurs loss, Brown spoke about how he can’t let the officiating get him off-rhythm. Then the next night, it was clear Brown was furious with the officials.
There have also been some cryptic comments from Brown about the officiating. After a loss to the Magic and a slow fourth quarter in November, Brown remarked how the “officials made their point” and that “I’ll keep my mouth closed.” That hasn’t been the case as Brown has spoken about the officials a handful of times this season.
Brown is enjoying a career-best season, averaging 29.6 points per game. The new role has meant more of the spotlight as he’s at the top of the opposing scouting report on a nightly basis. It also seems that the refs have been a point of frustration for him this season. That could be a similar case like with Jayson Tatum, who’s had his run-ins with officiating over the past few seasons.
Regardless, the officials aren’t going anywhere. Brown likely won’t stop calling them out, either, if he feels like the Celtics aren’t getting the same calls as the other team. The C’s and Spurs battled in a tough duel Saturday with San Antonio coming out on top in a close game.
“I don’t know what’s going on,” Brown said. “I got my conspiracies or whatever, but I don’t know what’s going on. But it seems like every time we play a good team, it’s the same (expletive).”