Jaylen Brown criticized Joel Embiid for 'flopping' and questioned the officiating in the Celtics' loss to the 76ers. He suggested that some officials may have an 'agenda' against him.
Key points
Jaylen Brown criticized Joel Embiid for flopping.
Brown questioned the officiating in the Celtics vs. 76ers game.
The Celtics lost Game 7, blowing a 3-1 series lead.
Brown suggested officials may have an agenda against him.
Boston CelticsPhiladelphia 76ersJaylen BrownJoel Embiid
Just around 24 hours after the Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7, sealing their blown 3-1 series lead, Jaylen Brown decided to air out some of his thoughts on the result.
After initially using his postgame press conference to mention Joel Embiid "flopping," on Sunday night, the Celtics star was on his own live stream, breaking down some of the big plays from Game 7 — and taking his criticism of the officiating a step further.
Brown doubled down on his Embiid comments, then suggested there were officials who needed to be "investigated" and that many have an "agenda" against him.
Here's what Brown had to say about Embiid and the officiating in Celtics vs. 76ers.
Brown's gripes about how the Celtics' season ended began at the podium, moments after Boston allowed the 76ers to claim a Game 7 win on the road and complete a 3-1 comeback. While the Celtics missing Tatum, shooting 13-for-47 from deep and struggling to make clutch shots down the stretch all played a role in Saturday's loss, one of Brown's main attributions for the defeat came with some allegations against Philadelphia's star center.
Q&A
What did Jaylen Brown say about Joel Embiid's flopping?
Jaylen Brown accused Joel Embiid of 'flopping' during their recent playoff matchup.
Why did Jaylen Brown criticize the officiating in the Celtics vs. 76ers game?
Brown claimed that the officiating was biased and suggested that some officials needed to be 'investigated' for having an 'agenda' against him.
What was the outcome of the Celtics vs. 76ers Game 7?
The Boston Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 7, resulting in the Celtics blowing a 3-1 series lead.
How did Jaylen Brown express his frustrations after the game?
Brown shared his thoughts during a postgame press conference and later on his own live stream, discussing key plays and officiating issues.
Related Articles
NBA·Recap
Jarrett Allen, Donovan Mitchell each have big nights as Cavaliers pull away to take Game 7 from Raptors
Cavaliers pull away to win Game 7 against Raptors, advance to face Pistons
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Recap
Sox fazed by Friars, drop series finale, 4-3
White Sox fall short against Padres, losing 4-3 in a tight game.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NBA·Recap
Jarrett Allen silences critics with the game of his life
Jarrett Allen delivers a standout performance in Game 7, leading the Cavs past the Raptors.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
North Korean club to play rare football match in South
A North Korean women's football club will play in South Korea for the first time since 2018, facing Suwon FC Women on May 20. This match is part of the Champions League semi-finals and reflects rare sporting exchanges between the two nations.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Sports
Detroit Lions Schedule Release Date Could Be Pushed Back
Detroit Lions fans may need to wait longer for the schedule release, potentially until May 18.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
MLB·Feature
Ketel Marte’s cold bat has D-Backs fans wondering what’s wrong
D-Backs Fans Worry About Ketel Marte's Performance This Season
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
"[Embiid is] a big body. He also was flopping around, he got some extra calls, stuff like that," Brown said. "They rewarded him for that, but that's the league that we're in."
"[Joel Embiid] also was flopping around. ... They rewarded him for that, but that's the league that we're in."
In Game 7, Brown and Embiid had been seen getting chippy in one of the NBA's longest rivalry matchups. As Embiid sized up, then backed down Brown, the two barked at one another, with the 76ers star getting the best of that matchup then later being seen saying, "I'm not guarding you."
That wasn't the end of the Game 7 head-to-head matchup between Brown and Embiid. Toward the end of the series, after a whistle, Embiid sent Brown to the floor and was given a technical foul for excessive contact, a play that left the Celtics star limping.
Joel Embiid went to contest Jaylen Brown after the whistle and it was deemed excessive content. pic.twitter.com/tStaz9k9OH
On Sunday night, however, appearing on his own stream, Brown had a whole lot more to say in regard to Embiid.
"Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in f---ing basketball history. [He] flops. He knows it, this ain't breaking news," Brown said. "It is what it is."
"Flopping has ruined our league. Joel Embiid is one of the greatest players that has played basketball, but he flops. He knows it too"
Brown, breaking down some of his Game 7 film on stream, also said that "there's weight classes for a reason" in reference to his back injury from the Embiid technical foul.
"Massive human being," Brown said. "But I'll tell you what. You give him another possession, I'll get right back in there and guard his a-- again."
Jaylen brown says it’s weight classes for a reason after he watches a clip of him guarding Joel Embiid pic.twitter.com/MbKvi44iJ4
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) May 4, 2026
Jaylen Brown says Celtics-76ers officials had 'agenda,' should be 'investigated'
That wasn't the end of Brown's controversial stream comments about the Celtics' Game 7 exit on Sunday night.
He also called out the officials in the series, saying that he's not the only player who will push off offensively and suggested that the officials were "targeting" him.
"Every player does it. So why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I've spoken and I was critical of refs in the regular season, and so they responded, 'You're going to lead the playoffs in offensive fouls,'" Brown said.
He also claimed that he's previously spoken to officials who "told me there’s an agenda going on each game that any time Jaylen puts his hands up, just call it."
"But Paul George does the same thing, Jalen Brunson does the same thing, s--- I could go down the list, it's a basketball play," Brown said. "Philly took advantage of it, and they took advantage of the officiating, and it cost us to some degree. But I've been doing it all regular season, not a problem, and now all of a sudden it's an offensive foul every time?"
Jaylen Brown GOES OFF on the NBA Refs and says they had an agenda against him throughout the Sixers vs Celtics series:
“They clearly had an agenda, maybe because I spoke so critical on them in the regular season”
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 4, 2026
Brown also went as far as to say that if he "had to choose," there were a few NBA officials who "need to be investigated," all of whom were on the call for the last three games of Celtics vs. 76ers.
“If I had to say there’s some referees that need to be investigated…we had 3 of them in the last 3 games”
Jaylen Brown on the officiating in the Celtics vs 76ers series 😳 (via FCHWPO on twitch) pic.twitter.com/hVHC5Sw1in