Admin September 24, 2024
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
While Team USA made a successful run to the gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer, it wasn’t without a bit of controversy.
The lack of playing time for Jayson Tatum and the snub of Jaylen Brown after they led the Boston Celtics to the 2024 NBA championship didn’t sit right with some people, and Celtics center Al Horford is the latest to express his displeasure over the situation.
“I personally was not happy about it,” Horford told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne of Tatum’s sporadic playing time with USA Basketball and Brown’s snub. “Those guys, they’re very special to me. And even though it was nothing against me, it motivated me and all of us for this season.”
When Kawhi Leonard withdrew from the Team USA roster, many expected Brown to be chosen to replace him following his stellar run in the playoffs that culminated with the NBA Finals MVP award. However, Team USA gave the 12th and final roster spot to his Celtics teammate, Derrick White. Brown called out the snub in a series of tweets:
Jaylen Brown @FCHWPO
@nike this what we doing ?
Team USA executive director Grant Hill explained the decision, saying: “You get 12 spots, and you have to build a team. And one of the hardest things is leaving people off the roster that I’m a fan of. … But the responsibility that I have is to put together a team … that will give us the best opportunity for success. And, so, whatever theories that might be out there, they’re just that.”
Hill’s explanation prompted another response from Brown:
Horford said he thinks Brown should’ve gotten more consideration, as he’s shown immense growth in his game since the last time he played for Team USA and had a disappointing performance at the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
“You saw an evolution in Jaylen’s game [last season],” Horford said. “It wasn’t just about scoring. He was getting people involved. He’s making the right reads. He is making the cuts when he needs to make it to the basket. And then, on the defensive end, he just took it to another level. His energy, his commitment to the defense—it was inspiring for all of us.”
Following Brown’s snub, Celtics fans were left with more questions when Tatum didn’t play a single minute in Team USA’s first group-stage game against Serbia. Team USA head coach Steve Kerr said he “felt like an idiot” for not playing Tatum, but he already drew the ire of Tatum’s parents, who reacted on social media:
BCole_Esq @Brandy_N_Cole
No he not. But if you find out what’s going on please let me know – unacceptable and makes NO SENSE. https://t.co/vtz1W398XJ
Tatum finished the Olympics with averages of 5.25 points, 5.25 rebounds and 1.5 assists in less than 18 minutes per game. Horford added that he’s proud of how his teammates handled their respective situations, but he was still disappointed by how things played out.
“I know that they handled it well. They’re fine,” Horford said. “But when you see those two guys, the amount of work that they’ve put in, the sacrifices they have made. To be on the top of their games and that happened to them, it was hard to watch [the Olympics] and not see them in the position that we would’ve hoped to see them in.”
