Jaylen Brown picked up a weird offensive foul for tugging on Marco Belinelli’s shorts

The NBA isn’t as physical as it used to be. That much is certain.

But second-year Celtics’ standout Jaylen Brown picked up an offensive foul against the Hawks on Monday night, and he didn’t actually touch Marco Belinelli at all.

Brown was attempting to gain position in the high post on Belinelli midway through the first quarter and used his defender’s shorts as a competitive advantage.

Slick and nifty? Absolutely. Legal? Apparently not.

The baseline referee blew the whistle, calling the youngster for an offensive foul. Brad Stevens couldn’t believe it.

FOX Sports Southeast analyst and former Hawk Mike Glenn suggested Brown’s foul would have never been called during his playing days from the mid-1970s to 1980s.

Did anyone every try that trick with you?

Glenn: “Many times. Many times. That was child’s play compared with some of the stuff they tried to do. You kidding? They would grab, hold, bite. Whatever it took.”

I guess now Brown knows not to tug on his defender’s shorts.