“Grant Hill calling me a conspiracy theorist is disappointing. I’ve been a VP since I was 21 years old. I have a great understanding.” It was only a few months ago when Jaylen Brown was taking shots at Team USA’s Managing Director after he was snubbed from the Olympics roster. Citing his role as the Vice President of the NBA Players Association, he indicated being aware of the inner workings within the basketball world that may allegedly not choose to give a deserving player his accolade. With just a few preseason days left, JB seems to be back to pointing fingers over a snub, though he wasn’t as direct as last time.

According to NBA reporter Jack Simone, the hooper was recently asked about not making the All-Defense team last season. Jaylen Brown had earlier made the All-Rookie Second Team and the All-NBA Second Team, the latter allowing him to sign one of the biggest NBA contracts. Despite this, his All-Defensive Team snub was something that was not only a disappointment to him, but to the rest of the Celtics squad too.

Addressing the same, Jaylen Brown expressed, ” felt like I took every defensive matchup all season long. I guarded the best player on every team [and] picked up full court, whether it was [a] point guard, centers, whatever. But you know, people don’t pay attention that intricately to defense. People only care about offense. So, that’s it.”

While Jaylen Brown did not name NBA’s Commissioner, Adam Silver, directly in his remarks, fans joined the dots. After all, back in 2018, he and other influential NBA stakeholders had been responsible for adopting a new set of rules that reportedly favored offense over defense. This was determined after noticing that the rules were made to cut down on contact that defensive players made.

Stricter enforcement against holding and hand-checking would allow for an influx in scoring by giving offensive players more space, and opportunities, to score. The effect of the new rules became noticeable in November 2018 itself, as the league-wide scoring average reached 112.3, just shy of the high 112.4, which was recorded back in 1970-71. Out of the 30 NBA teams, 19 averaged 110 points that season, a big contrast from the 6 that were doing so previously.

While Adam Silver highlighted the important role that offense plays, he himself stated that it shouldn’t come at the expense of defense. In the NBA Commissioner’s own words, “There’s a misconception that teams aren’t prioritizing defense. Players are tasked with defending larger areas of the court than ever before, showcasing the evolving demands of the game.”

Six years later, however, Jaylen Brown may have indicated that the bigger challenge is not working out for him, despite averaging 5.5 rebounds with a defensive rating of 112.2! Forbes themselves posted a report back in June, highlighting how the hooper’s defense had ‘set the tone’ for the NBA Finals. However, it does seem like none of it has met the expectations that Adam Silver and Co. reportedly created. While JB may not have received the All-Defense honor, several people have been taking a stand in his support.

Celtics vet Al Horford sends his flowers to Jaylen Brown after snub: “Just being very unbiased”

Having been in the NBA for 17 years, 6 of which have been devoted to the Boston Celtics at two different intervals, Al Horford has played with several crops of players as both teammates and rivals. Therefore, one would have to be truly extraordinary to create an impression on the 38-year-old. While the league may allegedly have not seen it, Horford has come to recognize the defensive prowess possessed by Jaylen Brown. As a result, he was among the first to highlight his views over the snub.

“Just being very unbiased, it’s very clear he’s first-team All-Defense,” said Al Horford in April. “You look at what he’s doing individually and the impact he has on the defensive end. We’re one of the best defenses; we have the best record. He deserves to be in that position.”

The fact that the Celtics were able to achieve a 64-18 win record, and even won the championship, despite losing their defensive star Marcus Smart speaks well for them, especially Jaylen Brown. While nothing can be done to rectify the earlier snub, the player can make another effort to show why he stands out amongst the rest of the NBA’s defensive squad. Who knows, maybe Adam Silver and Co. may change their minds this time around. After all, fan support and unity drive narratives a long way, don’t you think?

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.