There has never been any doubt that Boston Celtics fans are tough, but star Jaylen Brown believes there is a “toxic” contingent inside the fan base he has serious problems with.
The Boston Celtics are one of the top brands in all of basketball. Being a member of the team, in one of the most prominent cities in the United States brings a different sort of pressure and spotlight. With the current team being a title contender after reaching the NBA Finals last season, the attention is only intensified.
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Celtics star Jaylen Brown is well aware of the status of being a top player on the Cs and the platform that comes with it during his seven years with the franchise. However, he has also gotten a taste of the dark side of the Boston Celtics fan base when making use of the platform to speak out on social issues. And it has made him come to the realization that some Celtics just hate outspoken players.
In a Friday interview with Sopan Deb of the New York Times, Jaylen Brown was asked about his forthright nature on social issues and the unfortunate history of some Black athletes being treated differently in Boston. And while he said not all Boston Celtics fans are “toxic,” he does believe there is a notable group that is very “problematic.”
“It’s not the whole Celtic fan base, but it is a part of the fan base that exists within the Celtic nation that is problematic. If you have a bad game, they tie it to your personal character.
“I definitely think there’s a group or an amount within the Celtic nation that is extremely toxic and does not want to see athletes use their platform, or they just want you to play basketball and entertain and go home. And that’s a problem to me.”
– Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown earned All-Star honors for the second time in 2022-2023 as the Boston Celtics have had one of the best records all season long and seem poised for a serious run back to the NBA Finals this season.