Celtics star Jaylen Brown receives backlash for role in Jayson Tatum injury

The Boston Celtics suffered a crushing blow on Monday night during their Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks, not only falling 3-1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals but also witnessing a potentially career-altering injury to star Jayson Tatum.

The non-contact leg injury, which left Tatum unable to bear weight as he was carried off the court, sent shockwaves through the Celtics fanbase. As the NBA world awaited MRI results, many fans on X turned their grief and frustration toward Jaylen Brown, blaming a critical mistake moments before the injury for setting the stage for disaster.

The sequence that ignited the firestorm occurred late in the fourth quarter when Brown failed to secure a routine chest pass from Tatum, resulting in a turnover. Tatum, scrambling to recover the loose ball, appeared to sustain the injury during the chaotic play. Fans on X were quick to point fingers, with some labeling Brown’s miscue as the catalyst for the franchise’s nightmare. 

User @sadstevekerr encapsulated the sentiment, posting, “Tatum injury doesn’t happen if Jaylen Brown catches the (expletive) ball.”

The backlash grew fiercer as fans expressed betrayal over Brown’s role in the play. User @_ProCy_, a self-professed longtime supporter of Brown, wrote, “Not once have I said I wanted Brown traded. I’ve criticized him many times but always wanted him to bounce back and prove everyone wrong. I defended him when the left hand (expletive) went viral. I was happy when he won ECF and FMVP. I wanted him to retire a Celtic. I want him gone now.”

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Others piled on, with user @elijahsucks delivering a scathing critique: “Jaylen brown checked in and not only did he immediately get a turnover but he found a way to kill Jayson Tatum in the process.” The hyperbolic tone revealed the raw emotion coursing through Celtics Nation, as fans grappled with the possibility of losing Tatum for an extended period.

While some fans acknowledged Brown’s contributions to Boston’s 2024 championship, the consensus on X was unforgiving.

Other posts further accused Brown of costing the team not just the game but potentially the future of the franchise, with some even speculating Tatum’s injury could be as severe as an Achilles tear.

As the Celtics prepare for a do-or-die Game 5, the fanbase’s reaction on X reveals a fracture in their trust in Brown.

Once celebrated as half of Boston’s dynamic duo, Brown now faces intense scrutiny, with fans holding him accountable for a play that may define the team’s season—and Tatum’s career.

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