Shannon Sharpe Addresses Stephen A. Smith-Jaylen Brown Controversy

Sharpe is right on this one. When Smith targeted Brown, he wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill big man, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists this season, helping Boston to a 56-26 record and the No. 2 seed in the East before their amazing collapse against Philadelphia.

“You catching touchdowns. You celebrating. They boo you, Joe, because you’re scoring baskets. Hey, you making their team look bad. I was scoring touchdowns. But this what? I just look at it I have a different perspective because I’ve been on both sides. And I don’t have a journalism degree, but I always understood I don’t want to become a part of the story,” Sharpe added.

It was that collapse, surrendering a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers, that lit the fuse. Despite the exit, Brown called the season his “favorite” and Smith pushed back on “First Take.”

Brown then went public, calling Smith “the face of clickbait media” and taking him on directly in terms of his journalistic credibility.

Smith fired back with a long monologue, warning Brown to “point the finger at yourself” and reminding him of the Celtics’ championship just two years ago.

That reminder hurts precisely because it’s true. The 2025 collapse was a specific detail that Smith struggled with, and it’s a big part of why Brown was such a big part of Boston’s 2024 championship season.

Meanwhile, as that discussion unfolds in the press, the front office is playing another game of questions, but one that could ultimately shape Jaylen Brown’s future in Boston.

Celtics in No Rush to Extend Jaylen Brown Contract

Jaylen Brown’s contract situation is just one part of a lot bigger puzzle Coach Brad Stevens is attempting to solve in Boston’s offseason, which is one of the most consequential in the franchise’s history.

Despite Brown’s impressive campaign, Stevens is not seeing the need for an extension this summer, according to Brian Robb of Massachusetts Live. Robb was forthright in his explanation of the front office’s reasoning:

“Brad Stevens is no stranger to extensions, but giving out that type of money to a 33-year-old is far from a no-brainer. Adding that type of long-term commitment is more likely to hurt than help Brown’s trade value in the present, even after his standout regular season in 2025-26.”

The timing makes that attitude more difficult to overlook. Before Jayson Tatum returned from the Achilles injury, Boston’s star was Jaylen Brown, who had one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.

He’ll become active for a two-year deal that comes with a $142 million value in July, but his name has already been tossed around in Giannis Antetokounmpo trade negotiations, so Stevens may have the intent of making a very large swing in the opposite direction from retaining Brown for longer than he probably should.

Do you believe Brown will remain in Boston after this offseason? Leave a comment and share with us!