Jaylen Brown takes exception to Bobby Marks report: ‘Analytics are ruining the game’

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown appears to be the biggest name on the NBA trade market, but his value is a question mark to many in the league.

Brown finished sixth in MVP voting this year, as he averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists while carrying the offense with out Jayson Tatum for much of the season. However, to some in the NBA, that isn't enough to prove Brown's worth as a top player in the league.

The Celtics dangled Brown as part of their negotiations for Giannis Antetokounmpo, but now that the Heat won those sweepstakes, Boston has to figure out what to do with Brown. Despite winning an NBA title with Brown in 2024, the Celtics appear ready to move on from him.

Therefore, these are precarious times for Brown, and he certainly seems to feel the need to defend himself. That was especially the case on Saturday, as Brown took to social media to argue against analytics in favor of himself.

Here's what caused Brown to speak out.

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Jaylen Brown-Bobby Marks beef

ESPN front office analyst Bobby Marks went on SiriusXM NBA radio on Saturday to discuss a handful of topics, including the Jaylen Brown situation. While hosts Brian Geltzeiler and Sam Mitchell suggested Brown has a rigorous trade market, Marks pushed back.

While Marks himself argued the positives of Brown's play, he said that more analytically-inclined executives are more hesitant to acquire Brown.

"The analytics of Jaylen Brown is not good," Marks said. "Here's what the analytics say: a negative net rating over the last four years, when he was on the court this year, they were a -10.6. So there are some people out there that look at that deeper than what the eye test says."

Marks stressed that he believes what Brown did this year is legitimate, but it seems like not everyone believes that to be the case.

"I had an analytics guy tell me 'we view him as the seventh best player on a team,'" "I was like 'holy crap.'"

Here is the FULL four-minute answer @BobbyMarks42 gave @BGeltzNBA and @SamMitchellNBA regarding Jaylen Brown. pic.twitter.com/SmJhYk77RR

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) June 27, 2026

That last quote from the analytics executive made the rounds on social media, and Brown himself chimed in to defend himself. The Celtics forward tried to discredit the idea of analytics in basketball and even went at Marks himself, asking the analyst to reveal his source.

Analytics nowadays used to discredit and control narratives - Roll the ball out none of these guys better than me on both ends who does he work for https://t.co/ql3skXAutM

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026

Nobody has won more combined regular season and playoff games since I entered the league 10 years ago

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026

Analytics have / are ruining the game we playing AI hoops

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026

State your source https://t.co/v3k4qP6eRe

— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) June 27, 2026

Despite having a career-best season last year, Brown has more than enough ammunition to try and prove his doubters wrong. Still, that might happen on another team, giving Brown the chance to prove he can carry his own team.