"It's Really Pathetic": Stephen A. Smith Blasts Jaylen Brown For Calling Him Unethical

The feud between Stephen A. Smith and Jaylen Brown, which originally started in 2024, doesn't look like it'll end anytime soon. After things quieted down in October 2024, the back-and-forth resumed in May 2026, when Smith criticized the Boston Celtics star after their playoff exit.

Smith took issue with Brown saying this was his favorite season 24 hours after the Celtics' early playoff exit. In his response, Brown called for Smith's retirement on X: “I’ll ‘be quiet’ / stop streaming if you ‘be quiet’ and retire; let’s give the people what they want.”

Then at the Sports Beach Cannes event in France on Wednesday, June 24, Brown lashed out again. "The leader behind that was ESPN. ESPN is unethical, and Stephen A. Smith is the head face of that," said Jaylen Brown, and that prompted a response from Smith.

"It's really pathetic. Don't think it's an accident that he went out of the country spewing that nonsense because we're all tired of hearing from him here... This is about a grown-a*** man, acting like a child," Smith said on his show.

He asked Brown what made ESPN, as a network, so unethical. Then, he threw another slight at him by reminding everyone that the Celtics lost to the Philadelphia 76ers in the postseason after blowing a 3-1 lead.

The analyst then extended an invitation to Brown to talk face-to-face, on air. "You want to talk about accountability and all of that other stuff? Fine, dog. You’re welcome to come on the show." said Smith.

However, a feud with Stephen A. Smith isn't the only thing surrounding Jaylen Brown. In fact, if the reports indicating his trade are true, then he may not even stay with the Celtics by the time the new season rolls around.

Trade Rumors Persist Around Jaylen Brown

The Boston Celtics reportedly made a strong push to acquire Giannis Antetokounmpo before the NBA Draft. In hopes of acquiring the two-time league MVP, the front office reportedly offered Jaylen Brown to the Milwaukee Bucks.

That package, though it consisted of only one player, was good enough that the Celtics emerged as one of the two teams with a legitimate chance of acquiring Antetokounmpo.

Ultimately, the Miami Heat emerged as the winners of the sweepstakes for the Greek Freak. However, according to insider Shams Charania, the Celtics' front office is still looking at options.

"The Boston Celtics are actively in conversations with interested teams in Jaylen Brown. The sense that I get around the league is that the Celtics are having these discussions with a level of purpose," Charania said on SportCenter

That doesn't mean Brown is getting traded, as the small forward still has three years guaranteed left on his contract. "Finding the right suitor that meets the right price, that could take some time," added Charania.

Many, including Smith, considered Boston's 2025-26 postseason campaign a disappointment. However, Brown led the team to a 56-win regular season behind a career-best 28.7 points and 5.1 assists per game. He also grabbed 6.9 boards per game, tying the career-high he set in 2022-23.

Regardless of the trade situation, we'll have to wait and see if Jaylen Brown takes Stephen A. Smith up on his offer and actually appears on his show. One thing is for sure is that nethier of them has put their differences behind them just yet.