Jaylen Brown delivered one of the most candid moments from the latest episode of “State of the Game,” opening up about how politics and business influence today’s sports landscape.
The Boston Celtics star joined Grant Williams, Andre Iguodala, and others during the NBPA-backed discussion series created through the partnership between Enjoy Basketball and the National Basketball Players Association.
Brown pushed back against the idea that basketball exists separately from politics.
“To me the biggest misconception is that sports and politics don’t co-exist,” Brown said. “Sports is extremely political.”
He explained that league partners and corporate interests create outside pressure on players, especially when major events dominate headlines and public attention.
“Our game is a means of entertainment and at times serves as a distraction to the other bullshit that be going on around in our country,” Brown added.
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Brown Discusses Feeling Like a ‘Pawn’
Brown later took the conversation even further while describing how he sometimes views his role within the sports world.
“Sometimes I wake up feeling like I’m a pawn because I’m just a means to divert attention from what’s actually going on,” Brown said.
The four-time All-Star also mentioned how larger conversations can get overshadowed during events like the Super Bowl or NBA All-Star Weekend.
Episode 2 of “State of the Game” debuted May 13 and featured several discussions surrounding tanking reform, officiating, leadership, and player relationships with fans and media.
Jaylen Brown delivered one of the most candid moments from the latest episode of “State of the Game,” opening up about how politics and business influence today’s sports landscape. The Boston Celtics star joined Grant Williams, Andre Iguodala, and others during the NBPA-backed discussion series created through the partnership between Enjoy Basketball and the National Basketball Players Association.