Jaylen Brown did not hold back in his recent interview with Stephen A. Smith.

Ahead of the Celtic’s NBA championship banner celebration at TD Garden on the league’s opening night tipoff, the NBA Finals MVP sat down with Smith and labelled his sources as ‘cowardice.’

x: @stephenasmithStephen A. Smith and Jaylen Brown overcame an awkward start to their interview[/caption]

Back in May, Smith claimed on his ESPN show First Take that sources told him Brown is ‘not liked’ around the league and is ‘not ‘marketable.’

In a tense early exchange, the Celtics star challenged the host.

“I wanted to send a message through you to them. Cause you’re the only person who knows their source is,” Brown told Smith in their one-on-one interview.

“I basically wanted to say to them, that I think it’s cowardice. I think, historically, unnamed sources have attacked some of our greats and I/we are not responsible for what they lack in design.”

Smith claimed that he got the text from his anonymous source live during the show and decided to read it out for the viewers to understand why Brown misses out on accolades.

“It’s not so much that he’s underrated, it’s just that he’s not liked because of his I-am-better-than attitude,” Smith said, reading from the text message.

The ESPN presenter claimed it was this sort of feeling around the league’s higher-ups that saw him snubbed from the All-NBA team.

Brown’s reputation has been questioned in his past with the Celtics star quick to quash stories. An anonymous NBA executive said when Brown was drafted in 2016 that he was ‘too smart for the league.’

Brown had the last laugh, being named NBA Finals MVP and he didn’t hesitate to bring up the controversy between him and Smith immediately wearing a t-shirt with the words ‘state your source’ for the interview.

“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.

The Celtics shooting guard challenged Smith about his own integrity and why he aired out the claim on live television.

“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.

x: @stephenasmithStephen A. Smith and Jaylen Brown pose after their interview[/caption]

And two, the damage kind of is already done, and I think journalistic integrity goes two ways.”

Brown also used the interview as an opportunity to gift Smith his own ‘State Your Source’ t-shirt, referring to the viral post on X where the Celtics star told the sportscaster to state his sources.

Brown also opened up on the emotions of being overlooked for the USA Olympics team back in July but remained adamant that he won’t surrender to demands just to make the team for LA 2028.

It was a claim refuted by Grant Hill, the USA basketball team manager in Paris, but Brown remains steadfast.

“The emotions, it was a lot,” Brown admitted.

“But I’ll say this. In 2028, if I have to sign to Nike to increase my likelihood to play USA basketball, I’ll pass.”

It’s position that Brown has remained consistent as Brown took to X with a series of cryptic posts before a direct mention.

“@nike this is what we doing,” Brown posted on X while he also added, “I’m not afraid of you or your resources.”

The Celtics star wasn’t the only person on his team that was disgruntled during the Olympics with Brown claiming that Tatum was not impressed at his own game time.

“I know he was p***** for sure,” Brown said about Tatum who has little more than a bit-part role in the chase the ended in a gold medal.

“I remember texting him and being like you know like I’m mad for you.”

Brown and Tatum will return to action on Tuesday night as the Celtics will hang their 18th championship banner and hand out rings to the 2024 NBA Champions.