Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Tackles ‘State Your Source’ Saga With Stephen A. Smith

Celtics star Jaylen Brown is getting ready to celebrate his team’s NBA title when Boston raises the franchise’s 18th championship banner to the TD Garden rafters on Tuesday night.

But before the NBA Finals MVP accepts his championship ring, he took the opportunity to get some things off his chest when he appeared on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on Monday — starting with Smith’s unnamed source who said Brown was “unmarketable.”

Brown didn’t hesitate to bring up the controversy and even wore the infamous “State Your Source” T-shirt for the occasion.

“I wore this shirt because this is where I wanted to start the conversation,” Brown told Smith. “I think it’s bigger than both you and I. Obviously, your credentials are through the roof. … I know just because of your credentials that you’re never going to reveal your source because you abide by something journalistic integrity.”

Even though Brown understands Smith’s position, he used the outspoken media personality’s platform to address the so-called source head-on.

“You recited an unnamed source who I felt attacked my character,” Brown said. “And, one, I didn’t really get a chance to defend myself. And two, the damage kind of is already done, and I think journalistic integrity goes two ways.”

Brown continued: “I understand how that works but I also understand the idea of normal integrity as well. … Profession aside, reporter with the biggest platform in the world, I hold you accountable. Is there ever any dissension from what you report on as a man? I mean, what you report on as a reporter and then what you stand for as an individual?”

Smith admitted there wasn’t, but took the opportunity to defend his actions stating he was actually defending the Celtics champion during the segment on ESPN’s “First Take” that led to the controversy.

“I didn’t look at it as something that was smearing your character,” Smith told Brown. “I looked at it as individuals basically pointing out that you’re not liked. And I completely understand why folks who are in positions of power and decision-making positions, you wouldn’t like somebody because they usually don’t like folks that are principled.”

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Brown reiterated that he wasn’t holding Smith accountable for the controversy but rather wanted to use Smith’s platform to address those who spoke out against Brown’s likability.

“People like that are always watching,” Brown said. “And I wanted to let them know that I had a great summer. Simple as that. I traveled the world. I went to Umrah. I won two MVPs. I launched ‘Black Wall Street’ in Oakland and made a music video. I had a blast.

“I really wanted to address them directly, but I feel like since all of this happened on your platform, I wanted to send a message through you to them because you are the only person that knows who the source is, and I basically wanted to say to them that I think it’s cowardice. I think historically, unnamed sources have attacked some of our greats. I/we are not responsible for what they lack in design. Frankly, they can call all their buddies, their pals and friends from all over the world, all the unnamed sources and they can shove it where they got it from. … And that’s my journalistic integrity.”