Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown lamented the rise of "foul-baiting" in the NBA and the league's willingness to reward it following Thursday's 104-102 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"I don't know, maybe it all works in the end, but I just don't foul-bait," Brown told reporters postgame, including ESPN's Tim MacMahon. "I'm not looking to flop or anything like that, but it's almost like you got to. ... Because there's a couple of plays in the fourth quarter where I felt like I drove strong, went up strong, and I didn't get the benefit of the doubt.
"But maybe if I would have flopped, maybe I would have been able to sell that call. And those decide games."
Brown recorded 34 points on 10-of-25 shooting and attempted 14 free throws, his third-highest total this season, with seven of those coming in the fourth quarter.
The five-time All-Star's remarks are the first time he's spoken with reporters since being ejected in the second quarter of Tuesday's road defeat to the San Antonio Spurs. Brown received two technical fouls - an automatic ejection - for arguing a no-call on Spurs guard Stephon Castle.
"We commend players for playing the game the right way, but we give the benefit to those who necessarily are trying to manipulate the game into their advantage," Brown added. "I just don't think it's basketball. Let's just play basketball. All the foul-baiting, I think it's whatever for me."
Although Brown didn't mention any specific players, the timing of his comments suggest that he's taken issue with the play of Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, whom critics say often accentuates contact to draw fouls.
The reigning MVP, who's third in the NBA in free-throw attempts per game behind Luka Doncic and Giannis Antetokounmpo with 9.2, extended his 20-point streak to 127 games against the Celtics, surpassing Wilt Chamberlain's long-standing record. Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 35 points, six rebounds, and nine assists and went 7-of-8 from the line. He scored 14 points in the fourth quarter but didn't attempt a free throw in the final frame.
"It's one thing to get fouled," Brown said, "but it's like, when you're not even trying to score when you're driving and flailing your body into (a defender) just to make it look like you're getting fouled. I think that's the part where it's like, all right, come on.
"But I mean, that's where our league is at. That's where the NBA is at. So it's like, get down or lay down. So, maybe I need to flop a little bit more."
