Brown talks about the thin line between voicing one’s opinion and being disrespectful.

The Boston Celtics welcomed Kristaps Porzingis back to the starting lineup on Friday night, sparking excitement in the fans. Despite the team’s dominance with a 119-106 lead with just over seven minutes in the fourth quarter, the mood took a u-turn when Jaylen Brown received back-to-back technical fouls, leading to his first career ejection.

In his post-game interview, the two-time All-Star revealed what transpired on the court, openly critiquing the ref for what he perceived as a decision influenced by emotions.

As Immanuel Quickley drove towards the rim, Brown’s attempt to stop him was accompanied by the sound of a whistle. Displeased with the call, Jaylen conveyed his dissatisfaction to the referees, pointing out the absence of a whistle on a similar play for Boston on the other end. Undeterred, the 27-year-old voiced his concerns as he headed to the Celtics bench, which ultimately led him to get two techs in no time.

Brown on first-career ejection

Considering that Brown was already out of play as was entering the bench, the refs evidently took his words personally.

“I always thought my first career ejection would be something a little more exciting. Guys tussling up, thrown to the ground. Not some overemotional ref who had a bad day. Most upset about is that I should’ve gotten my f***ing money’s worth,” Brown said. “There’s a difference between showing emotions and it being disrespectful or derogatory towards the other person.”

 

The Celtics eased to victory in Brown’s absence

In a game where Jaylen scored 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting from the field, Derick White emerged as the leading scorer for the Celtics, notching a season-best 30-point performance and leading the Celtics to a 133-123 victory.

Furthermore, Jayson Tatum and Porzingis added 25 and 21 points respectively, exemplifying a strong scoring performance from the Celtics. With this triumph, Boston has improved their tally to 16-5, including a 10-0 record at home.

Looking ahead, the Celtics are scheduled to host the Cleveland Cavaliers for two consecutive matches. Hopefully, Brown carries the motivation to overturn this frustrating ejection to a magnificent display on the court.