Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown publicly criticized Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid following Boston’s first-round playoff elimination, pointing to what he described as excessive flopping during the series.
Brown addressed the topic during a Twitch stream, where he evaluated both the officiating and Embiid’s impact after Philadelphia completed a 3-1 comeback with a 109-100 Game 7 win.
“Joel Embiid is a great player. One of the best bigs in basketball history. [But he] flops. He know it,” Brown said, via HoopsHype. “This ain’t breaking news. It is what it is.”
The Celtics swingman connected his criticism to broader concerns about how physical play is interpreted, especially in high-leverage postseason possessions.
“You know what I mean? This is my personal opinion on basketball,” Brown said. “Flopping has ruined our game… Flopping is exaggerating contact that’s already there. It’s not about drawing contact or drawing fouls.”
Embiid’s performance in the series shaped the outcome after he returned in Game 4 from an appendectomy.
The reigning MVP candidate produced 34 points, 12 rebounds, and six assists in Game 7, controlling the paint and facilitating offense as Philadelphia advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals.
From a basketball standpoint, Embiid’s interior presence shifted defensive coverages, forcing Boston to collapse and opening perimeter opportunities for Tyrese Maxey and others.
Maxey added 30 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists in the decisive game, while the 76ers maintained control for nearly the entire contest.
Brown acknowledged that impact despite his criticism.
“But he came and did what he was supposed to do. He dominated, and we lost. So, credit to the 76ers, credit to Joel Embiid,” Brown said.
Boston’s defensive schemes struggled to contain both Embiid’s scoring and passing, especially without Jayson Tatum, who was ruled out shortly before Game 7 with left knee stiffness.
Brown led the Celtics with 33 points and nine rebounds, while Derrick White contributed 26 points, but Boston shot just 13-of-49 from three-point range.
The Celtics attempted to attack the paint more consistently, yet Philadelphia’s rim protection and rebounding limited second-chance opportunities late.
The Celtics’ elimination marked their earliest playoff exit since the 2020-21 season, ending a campaign in which they finished second in the Eastern Conference at 56-26.
Philadelphia now shifts focus to the next round against New York, while Boston enters an offseason with questions about roster health, shot selection, and late-game execution.
