Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown addressed the recent Beverly Hills incident during Thursday’s postgame press conference, following Boston’s 121-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Brown had a public confrontation with the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) on Saturday, February 14, after officers shut down a private event he hosted at the home of Oakley founder Jim Jannard in the Trousdale neighborhood during NBA All-Star Weekend.
Brown, who is a brand partner with Oakley and promotes his performance brand 741Performance, described the gathering as a panel discussion on culture, leadership, and creative control, not a public party. He claimed the event was invitation-only, held at a private residence, and that no permit was required because the homeowner (Jannard) had granted access.
The BHPD initially stated that an event permit had been applied for and denied due to previous violations at the address, and that organizers proceeded despite the denial. However, on Thursday, February 19, the City of Beverly Hills retracted that statement, issuing a formal apology.
“To be honest, I’m not really sure. I was just trying to enjoy my All-Star weekend, you know, first time being a starter,” he said, highlighting his frustration over the situation.
Brown criticized the statements made by authorities, saying, “People were making assumptions saying that we didn’t go file the proper permits. We found out that was a lie… They put that in their statement. So why even put that out there if it wasn’t the truth?” He added that even the apology fell short: “Even in the apology they put out, they included some stuff that wasn’t true. So I don’t think that apology was acceptable.”
The All-Star reflected on being targeted during the event, calling it unfair to him and his team. “It’s evidence that we were being targeted. My team didn’t do nothing wrong. We just was trying to have a good All-Star break. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth for sure,” Brown said.
Brown explained that the event was intended to bring multiple industries together and foster positive discussions. “We had a panel with BMA Williams, Andre Iguodala, Lar Russell, RDC World… all just talking about what the future culture is… and then a watch party. We weren’t doing anything out of the norm for All-Star weekend,” he noted.
Despite the controversy, Brown emphasized his focus on the game. “I wouldn’t even think about the game today. I was pissed, but we came out and just was aggressive and played great basketball. I like the way our team is looking right now. Offensively, we’re finding our pace, finding our flow,” he said after recording his third triple-double of the season.
On facing former teammates Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford with Golden State, Brown remained professional. “I played with those guys, against those guys, practiced with those guys for a long time. I always wished them well… We came out and did what we were supposed to do,” he said.
Brown also addressed why he publicly shared his feelings. “If it’s happened to me, it’s probably happened to numerous amount of other people. I wasn’t trying to stir the pot. I just wanted to enjoy my All-Star weekend,” he explained.
Boston’s victory solidified its second-place hold in the Eastern Conference at 35-19. Brown finished with 23 points, 15 rebounds, and 13 assists, while Payton Pritchard added 26 points and Sam Hauser scored 16. Boston shot 52% from the field and handed out 36 assists, controlling the pace despite Golden State’s fourth-quarter rally.
