Jaylen Brown’s odd sneakers drew notice in Game 3 of the Celtics vs. Hawks series for bearing a misspelled statement, “Was it really Neismith?” that appeared to challenge the originator of basketball. The shoes also have the words “Just do better” and Mesoamerican cultural symbols on them.
While Brown’s sneakers were meant to start a debate or make a statement, the misspelling of Naismith’s name brought criticism and shame. Many fans and commentators flocked to social media to point out the blunder, with some even asking whether Brown did it on purpose to bring attention to his shoes.
Despite the attention generated by Jaylen Brown’s statement sneakers, the Boston Celtics were defeated by the Atlanta Hawks in Game 3 of the series, 130-122. However, Boston retains a 2-1 lead heading into Game 4 in Atlanta.
Brown has already made comments with his footwear, including honoring Boston sports hero Bill Russell in the first game of the series. However, the controversy surrounding his most recent shoes has fueled speculation about his future with the Celtics.