“He’s Got My Respect”: Jaylen Brown Clears Up Beef Rumors With Cooper Flagg

Rivalries between NBA players often begin in the least expected moments, stemming from on-court incidents that neither party really intended to escalate. But such is the nature of competition. Just take Jaylen Brown’s dig at Cooper Flagg last week, for instance.

During the Boston Celtics’ 110-100 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday, Feb 4, Brown was visibly frustrated with the calls going in favor of Flagg. He did not like it one bit that the rookie got to the line 10 times in the game.

Flagg scored 36, which eventually went in vain. But an exasperated Brown still barked mid-game. “He’s a rookie, and he’s got 10 free throws,” he shouted. Seeing the backlash online and rumors of an emerging “beef”, the Celtics star has not wasted time to clear the air.

“My boy is him. He’s got my respect for sure. He scored 30 on us on all floaters,” Brown said on one of his streams. He also praised the teenager for being one of the best in league history for his age. “For a 19-year-old? Spectacular,” added Brown.

There’s not an iota of exaggeration in Brown’s words. Flagg got off to a slow start in the 25-26 season after being drafted #1 overall in the 2025 Draft. And he’s since become a phenom, averaging 20.3 points per game, with multiple 30-point outings in recent weeks.

Flagg is also the favorite to win Rookie of the Year, which doesn’t come as a surprise. What’s even more staggering is the fact that he is adapting well to the point guard position, which many felt would limit him.

Brown, like the other established stars and veterans, may lose their head mid-game, with Flagg outperforming them. But looking back, they’ll only have respect and love for the star in the making.