NBA Fans Ripped Ref for His Odd Description of Jaylen Brown’s Brutal Game 4 Foul

This was one way to put it.

Jaylen Brown wasn't called for a flagrant foul on this play in which he hit Pacers guard T.J. McConnell in the face. /

Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics are going to the NBA Finals after finishing a sweep of the Indiana Pacers with a 105-102 win in Game 4 on Monday night.

The Celtics were once again able to pull off a comeback late in the game, with Brown, who was named the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals, leading the way.

However, one play by Brown midway through the fourth quarter had fans wondering why refs didn't call him for a flagrant foul. The Celtics star hit the Pacers' T.J. McConnell square in the face, sending the guard crashing to the ground. The refs reviewed the play and then made this weirdly-phrased ruling:

“The contact, although unfortunate, does not rise to the level of flagrant foul penalty 1,” referee Zach Zarba said to the crowd.

Here's the play:

This was NOT ruled a flagrant foul

Good or bad call?

pic.twitter.com/SEW9PCC0wb

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) May 28, 2024

Here's Zarba describing his weird ruling:

“The contact, although unfortunate, does not rise to the level of flagrant foul penalty 1.”

You don’t often get the ref’s views on what’s fortunate or unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/2JhgwnDCBy

— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) May 28, 2024

Fans were not impressed:

This not being called a flagrant is legit blasphemy. Not sure how any ref can say that this is “unfortunate” when it hits so many criteria for flagrant fouls. NBA is gross rn.

pic.twitter.com/COSyY6LQl8

— Flow Bocaj (@jawolfUSA) May 28, 2024

Angel Hernandez retires today and NBA officials decide “y’all thought he was bad? watch this.” Calling this an “unfortunate common foul” and not even a flagrant 1 is absolutely insane. https://t.co/Ia5TDYSBZl

— Luke Beer (@lbeer7) May 28, 2024

LMFAO did a real ref just say a punch to the face is unfortunate but not a flagrant

— HaliMuse (@hali_muse) May 28, 2024

“Although unfortunate” is hilarious in a playoff game https://t.co/O68Bh29b3I

— Nighthawk (@KrikorianB15) May 28, 2024

Zach Zarba just said the contact "although unfortunate" is not a flagrant. That's gotta be a new one.

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 28, 2024

"Why the contact was unfortunate" 😂

That's clearly a flagrant foul... Awful ruling here

— Destin Adams (@TheDestinAdams) May 28, 2024

It’s important to remember that the Boston Celtics have never actually committed a flagrant foul. Just unfortunate blows directly to the face (and accidental foot grabs b/c I’m still confused about that one from last series). https://t.co/alHtQXoies

— Michael Drapcho (@M_Drapcho21) May 28, 2024

The Celtics will play the winner of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Dallas Mavericks series in the NBA Finals.