Philadelphia 76ers star Jaylen Brown believes some NBA coaches are hesitant to hold their best players accountable because challenging a franchise’s biggest stars could put their jobs at risk.
Brown explained that the combination of money, egos, and personal relationships can make it difficult for coaches to establish the same standards for everyone on a roster.
“In the NBA, it’s a lot of egos, a lot of money, a lot of emotions, like it’s politics. Coaches are afraid sometimes to challenge their top player because if it goes sh*t they might lose their job.”
According to Brown, concerns about job security are understandable, but coaches must be willing to hold their star players to the same standards as the rest of the team.
“And job security is very important, and I can understand that. But if you want to build a winning environment and like you want to maintain the integrity of your group, you got to treat the top is just like you treat the bottom.”
Brown emphasized that the responsibility should be even greater for a team’s leading players, who set an example for their teammates.
“If anything, the top got to be more willing to be coached… So, even with me going to Philadelphia, I’m gonna be one of those top guys. I’ve already had that conversation with [Nick] Nurse, I prefer to be coached.”
The former Boston Celtics forward said he has already discussed his expectations with 76ers head coach Nick Nurse and made it clear that he welcomes criticism and accountability.
“Obviously, it’s a respect, like how you communicated, but I prefer to be coached. I prefer to be held accountable because then that has an effect on the rest of the group.”
Brown believes that when coaches stop holding their best players accountable, it can negatively affect the entire team’s culture and performance.
“When you start to lose that, that’s when losing starts to enter the equation.”
