Brown Calls Out Officiating and Embiid's "Flopping" After Game 7 Loss
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown took to Twitch on Sunday to voice his frustration, criticizing both the officiating and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid's tactics following the Celtics' first-round playoff exit.
The Celtics lost Game 7 at home on Saturday without the injured Jayson Tatum, a defeat that ended their season in disappointing fashion.
"Flopping has ruined our game. Embiid is a great player ... he knows it. This ain't breaking news."
— Jaylen Brown
Brown singled out Embiid, who posted 34 points and 12 rebounds in the series-clinching win, accusing the superstar of using flopping to draw fouls. He argued that such tactics fundamentally damage the quality of NBA basketball.
A Personal "Agenda" from Referees?Brown also claimed that the officials were targeting him due to his previous criticism of officiating during the regular season. He stated that referees admitted to an "agenda" against him, specifically citing a league-leading 10 offensive fouls called against him in the series.
Referees admitted to an "agenda" against Brown, calling offensive fouls on him for moves others do without penalty, he claimed.
"It's not even about the calls," Brown said. "It's the consistency. [Officials] have told me they have an agenda. They call offensive fouls on me for things other players do every single play."
Brown averaged 25.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists over the course of the series. Despite the early exit, the five-time All-Star and reigning 2024 NBA Finals MVP remains a cornerstone of the Celtics' franchise.