Stephen A. Smith and Celtics’ Jaylen Brown beef: A brief history
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith and Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown are making headlines for a series of comments directed back and forth at one another. While the conflict has heated up in recent days and weeks, the two first became embroiled when the Celtics made a run at the championship in May 2024, when Brown eventually was named NBA Finals MVP.
Smith said while he was on a broadcast that he has heard that Brown wasn't as "marketable" as other NBA stars. Here is a brief transcription of what was said ( via Boston. com ): “It’s not so much that he’s underrated, it’s that he’s just not liked because of his, ‘I am better than you,’ attitude,” Smith said during a TV appearance on ESPN.
“He knows it. It’s the same reason he is not as marketable as he should be. That’s what an NBA source just sent me.
” Brown responded on social media, writing "state your source" as a strong reply to Smith. He then wore a t-shirt with those words written on them when Boston celebrated their title with a parade. Brown also offered the shirt as a gift to Smith, too.
The two then had a face-to-face interview in October 2024. During the conversation, among many other points, Brown said the following ( via Boston. com ): “I wore this shirt because this is where I wanted to start the conversation,” Brown said to Smith, adding that he thinks the issue is “bigger than both you and I.