The NBA has handed down a $50,000 fine to Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown following his pointed comments during a livestream after the team's season-ending Game 7 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. The fine, reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania, stems from Brown’s criticism of the officiating in the decisive matchup.

The Celtics entered the first-round series with a commanding 3-1 lead, only to see the 76ers storm back with three straight wins to advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks. In the finale, Brown carried the load as teammate Jayson Tatum sat out due to knee stiffness, but it wasn’t enough to prevent the collapse.

Brown didn’t mince words when discussing the referees’ performance. He claimed they targeted him with offensive foul calls as retaliation for his earlier criticism during the regular season. "They keep saying, like there's push-offs and stuff like that," Brown said. "Do you know how many players do that? That's the common play, a basketball play. Every player does it. So why are you targeting me? They clearly had an agenda."

This isn’t the first time Brown has been penalized for speaking out. Back in January, the five-time All-Star received a $35,000 fine after a game against the San Antonio Spurs, where he blasted officials for "refusing" to call fouls on the Spurs while whistling touch fouls on the Celtics. In that game, Boston shot just four free throws compared to San Antonio’s 20. Brown acknowledged at the time that he expected a letter from the league, and he was right.

For fans and players alike, this latest fine highlights the ongoing tension between the NBA and its stars over officiating—a topic that’s as heated as any playoff series. As Brown and the Celtics head into an offseason of reflection, this incident serves as a reminder of the fine line between passion and penalty in the league.