Hairline powder smudging opponents? Brown boldly responds: "If it bears the championship mark, they should send me a thank-you card."

On December 22nd Beijing time, Celtics star Jaylen Brown has sparked much debate this season for using hairline powder that ends up smudging on opponents. Despite the criticism, he hasn’t backed down at all.

During his interview with People magazine, Brown gave a very confident reply regarding the widely shared clips of powder residue sticking to opponents after he applied it to his hairline.

“At first, I was a bit embarrassed, but soon I was annoyed at myself for feeling that way,” Brown said. “Then I thought, ‘Those guys should actually be thankful.’ They should be glad I left a mark on them. They ought to send me a thank-you card that says, ‘You carry the exclusive mark of a champion—thanks for the favor.’”

Brown revealed that about a year or two ago he started experiencing “hair issues,” which led him to partner with a hair care brand. The collaboration aims to both improve his hair loss and help “break the stigma around hair loss and encourage open conversations.” The 29-year-old star believes the pressure to win the NBA championship in 2024, along with last season’s title defense, contributed partly to his hair loss.

“People’s expectations for us to win are ridiculously high, as if the entire season is a failure if we don’t capture the title,” he explained.

Now, despite dealing with hair loss, Brown’s confidence has only grown, and he no longer minds leaving his “exclusive mark” on other players.

“I know many fear embarrassment, dread failure, and worry about making a fool of themselves, and so on. But I’ve noticed two changes in myself: first, I don’t care about the gossip at all; second, when those moments come and people think they’re mocking me, those experiences actually make me stronger, more disciplined, and more focused. So I think, ‘Why not?’ If this helps me stay at my best... I’ll keep doing it.”

So far this season, Jaylen Brown has played 26 games, averaging 29.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.0 assists. The Celtics hold a 17-11 record, currently sitting third in the Eastern Conference.