Admin September 24, 2024
Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
Jaylen Brown’s frustration with being passed over by Team USA for the Olympics had nothing to do with Derrick White specifically being named to the roster as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement.
Per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Brown sent a text message directly to White while the situation was happening “to make sure he knew none of this was personal” between the two Boston Celtics teammates.
It was announced on July 10 that a joint agreement by Team USA and the Los Angeles Clippers determined Leonard, who had been dealing with knee problems since the playoffs in April, would not participate in the Olympics.
White was named as Leonard’s replacement for the Paris Games. Brown, who had just been named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals, made it known he wasn’t happy with the decision.
Brown seemed to indicate he thought Nike—Team USA’s leading sponsor at the Olympics—was involved in the decision-making process.
Jaylen Brown @FCHWPO
@nike this what we doing ?
The Celtics forward is currently a sneaker free agent after previously having a deal with Adidas that expired in 2021. He did wear Nike shoes on the court during the Celtics’ postseason run.
As all of that was going on, Brown did state publicly he was happy for White and proud there were multiple Celtics players representing the U.S. in the Olympics.
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jaylen Brown on not making Team USA: “I wasn’t surprised, but my reaction was that I was happy for D White. It’s dope to have so much of our guys on there, so I was happy for those guys. But I wasn’t surprised.” pic.twitter.com/UcL9XAhhOr
Shelburne noted that the feeling from people within the Celtics organization was not one of surprise because Brown isn’t afraid to speak his mind.
“That’s who Jaylen is,” one team source told Shelburne. “He is not afraid to speak his mind. Jaylen has a constant chip on his shoulder and sees doubters everywhere.”
Celtics center Al Horford told Shelburne that Brown might have a big chip on his shoulder again because he has looked “so hungry, so motivated, so driven” when they have worked out in the gym this summer.
White, Jrue Holiday and Jayson Tatum all earned gold medals playing for Team USA this summer. It was the ninth time a player has won an NBA title and Olympic gold medal in the same year. Holiday previously did it in 2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Brown averaged 23.0 points on 49.9 percent shooting and 5.5 rebounds per game in 70 starts for the Celtics last season.
