Jaylen Brown Calls Out NBA’s Flopping Culture: “There’s a Difference”
Jaylen Brown isn’t one to mince words-on or off the court. Whether he’s throwing down a thunderous dunk or speaking his mind in front of a camera, the Celtics star brings intensity and clarity. And during a recent livestream with rapper DDG, Brown took a moment to shine a light on something that’s become a growing talking point around the league: flopping.
“There’s a difference between drawing a foul and flopping,” Brown said. “Flopping is acting like you got hit and you didn’t get hit.”
That’s not exactly a groundbreaking concept, but coming from a player of Brown’s caliber-especially one who’s currently averaging 29.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game-it carries weight. He’s not just talking from the sidelines; he’s in the trenches every night, going toe-to-toe with some of the league’s most physical and skilled players.
Brown didn’t single anyone out maliciously, but he did name names. LeBron James, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joel Embiid, James Harden, Luka Dončić, and Nikola Jokić were all mentioned as players who have, at times, leaned into the art of embellishment.
But Brown was clear: this isn’t about character assassination. It’s about calling attention to a trend that’s become far too common across the NBA.
Jaylen Brown calls out NBA stars like Shai and LeBron for flopping, saying it’s a necessary skill for players to get calls... 👀😭 pic.twitter.com/iQuR9i7Bi0
— e/DDG (@everythingDDG) December 18, 2025
“Everyone does it,” Brown said. “A lot of the offensive players do it.”
And he’s not wrong. Flopping has become a strategic tool-sometimes subtle, sometimes theatrical-that players use to gain an edge. Whether it’s baiting defenders into fouls, selling contact to draw whistles, or simply manipulating the optics of a play, it’s all part of the modern NBA playbook.
Take Brown’s own recent outing against the Pistons as an example. He dropped 34 points, grabbed eight boards, and dished out seven assists.
Still, the Celtics came up short, falling 112-105 to a Detroit team that showed more grit than their record might suggest. Brown’s performance was electric, but even he knows that in today’s game, momentum can swing on a single whistle-especially when that whistle is drawn by a well-timed flop.
Of course, flopping isn’t new. LeBron James has long been a lightning rod for criticism on this front, but he’s far from the only one.
Look back through the years and you’ll find a long list of stars who’ve turned the flop into an art form. James Harden’s head jerks, Chris Paul’s precision timing, Reggie Miller’s leg kicks, Patrick Beverley’s dramatics-each had their own signature move.
And even further back, guys like Vlade Divac, Robert Horry, and Dennis Rodman were pulling these tricks before flopping was even a buzzword.
Rodman, for example, was notorious for exaggerating contact to draw fouls. Miller?
He’d kick his legs out on jumpers to bait defenders. It wasn’t just gamesmanship-it was strategy.
Get your man in foul trouble, get to the line, and tilt the game in your favor.
So when Brown calls it out, he’s not attacking individuals-he’s questioning a culture. One that’s been around for decades but has evolved with the pace and precision of today’s game. And coming from a player who thrives on physicality and doesn’t shy away from contact, the message hits a little differently.
Brown’s critique isn’t just about what’s happening on the court-it’s about how the game is perceived and played. In a league that values toughness, skill, and integrity, the line between savvy and simulation is getting blurrier by the year.
But Brown’s message is clear: there’s a difference. And maybe it’s time the league takes a closer look at where that line is drawn.