Jaylen Brown’s exclusion from the United States Olympic roster sparked speculation among NBA fans about potential tension within the Boston Celtics locker room, but this concern appears to be unfounded.
Despite being the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, Brown was not selected to replace Kawhi Leonard on the Olympic team. He openly criticized Nike, suggesting the company played a role in his omission. Brown, an All-NBA star, hinted that he would provide more information in the future. However, fans were disappointed, believing that his comments might have slighted his teammate Derrick White, who was chosen to fill Leonard’s spot.
While some labeled Brown as “selfish” for his public remarks directed at Grant Hill and Team USA, one of his Celtics teammates, Payton Pritchard, expressed support for Brown’s outspokenness. In a conversation with Evan Turner on the “Point Forward” podcast, Pritchard emphasized that there were no hard feelings from Derrick White and that the team remains united. Pritchard also questioned why Brown wasn’t even considered for the Olympic team, highlighting Brown’s versatility, defensive skills, and ability to fit into various roles. He rejected the notion that Brown is a difficult teammate, expressing deep respect and admiration for him.
Grant Hill, meanwhile, stated that Brown would be considered for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles and defended the decision to select White over Brown for this year’s team.
As Team USA continues its pursuit of a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, Brown has been enjoying his summer, celebrating the Celtics’ championship victory.