Jaylen Brown 'Not Surprised' By Team USA Snub, Blames Nike

[RealGM Wiretap]

Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown was in Las Vegas to watch the Celtics take on the Los Angeles Lakers at Summer League. Brown was asked about a number of topics, including not being asked to play for Team USA at this summer's Olympics in Paris.

"I wasn’t surprised, but my reaction was that I was happy for D (Derrick) White," Brown said. "It’s dope to have so much of our guys on there, so I was happy for those guys. But I wasn’t surprised."

Brown said he believes that Nike influenced the decision to replace Kawhi Leonard with White instead of him. Brown is not a Nike-sponsored athlete, while White is. Brown has also been an outspoken critic of the shoe and apparel company in the past.

"I do for sure," Brown said when asked if he believes Nike influenced the decision. "There will be more stuff to come with that. As of now, I’m not gonna comment on it."

Brown later emphasized that he is happy for his Celtics teammate White on going to the Olympics.

"I called Derrick right away,” Brown said. “Just to make sure there’s no confusion, my love for you and all of that. He knew that. Me and D-White are good."

Via Jared Weiss/The Athletic

[lonea]

he's "not like us"

[mickie]

Jaylen Brown was not the best player in that Championship team. Dude and his fans just became more entitled because he’s named FMVP

[t-rexCity]

Jaylen Brown was not the best player in that Championship team. Dude and his fans just became more entitled because he’s named FMVP

In that series he was the best player. Finals mvp is not a cake walk. The best player on the best team in the biggest stage. That most certainly gives him the right to feel entitled.

[haste10176]

Jaylen Brown was not the best player in that Championship team. Dude and his fans just became more entitled because he’s named FMVP

He was 100% clearly the best player.. Tatum was a chucker takes too many bad shots it didnt cost the team luckily. Brown also gaurded Luka the most.. If your point is brown and tatum arent top 10 players but more like top 15 then I agree and the guys around them are all probably in the top 40 yeah probably right making it a combined team effort more than normal sure.. Should Brown be on the olympic team yes absolutely cause he can play a role and do the gritty stuff..

[alienpick]

Guess you should have signed with Nike

[Skipwhethers]

The fact that he was passed over twice by team USA despite his enormous talent speaks to how toxic his personality must be.

[BK_2020]

Calling Jaylen Brown an "outspoken critic" of Nike is somewhat of a stretch. All he did was tweet "When did Nike care about ethics?" that one time.

[the_process]

The fact that he was passed over twice by team USA despite his enormous talent speaks to how toxic his personality must be.

100% this. And it's also why the media keeps trying to sell Tatum so hard as well.

[Melwing]

Calling Jaylen Brown an "outspoken critic" of Nike is somewhat of a stretch. All he did was tweet "When did Nike care about ethics?" that one time.

"all he did was tweet criticism about nike"

Yeah, that's being an outspoken critic.

[BK_2020]

Calling Jaylen Brown an "outspoken critic" of Nike is somewhat of a stretch. All he did was tweet "When did Nike care about ethics?" that one time.

"all he did was tweet criticism about nike"

Yeah, that's being an outspoken critic.

Not really. I get that the standard for public discourse in 2024 is quite low but even so to be outspoken about something you have to have done more than make a meaningless 6 word post on social media.

[Melwing]

Calling Jaylen Brown an "outspoken critic" of Nike is somewhat of a stretch. All he did was tweet "When did Nike care about ethics?" that one time.

"all he did was tweet criticism about nike"

Yeah, that's being an outspoken critic.

Not really. I get that the standard for public discourse in 2024 is quite low but even so to be outspoken about something you have to have done more than make a meaningless 6 word post on social media.

Looks like you've changed the definition of a word, there. I don't typically do that to fit personal narratives, but you go right ahead.

[chipchipperson]

"all he did was tweet criticism about nike"

Yeah, that's being an outspoken critic.

Not really. I get that the standard for public discourse in 2024 is quite low but even so to be outspoken about something you have to have done more than make a meaningless 6 word post on social media.

Looks like you've changed the definition of a word, there. I don't typically do that to fit personal narratives, but you go right ahead.

"When has Nike cared about ethics" is less of a critique and more of a fact stated in the form of a rhetorical question.

[WaltFrazier]

Nike is an evil company, or at least unethical. No doubt Brown is right

[coolbyme]

Jaylen Brown was not the best player in that Championship team. Dude and his fans just became more entitled because he’s named FMVP

He was 100% clearly the best player.. Tatum was a chucker takes too many bad shots it didnt cost the team luckily. Brown also gaurded Luka the most.. If your point is brown and tatum arent top 10 players but more like top 15 then I agree and the guys around them are all probably in the top 40 yeah probably right making it a combined team effort more than normal sure.. Should Brown be on the olympic team yes absolutely cause he can play a role and do the gritty stuff..

Tatum drew Dallas' strongest defensive coverage at all times, and Brown was left to run around and showcase his skills. Like iguodala that year he won finals MVP. Iggy was clearly not the best player GSW had for that series, but he was the most impactful, due to the fact that the defense was focused elsewhere.