Jaylen Brown took problem with being neglected by Group USA following Kawhi Leonard’s premature damage, which opened up a roster spot that wasn’t provided to the reigning NBA Finals MVP and three-time All-Star.
Brown took to social media to specific his displeasure and beliefs that Nike, the lead sponsor for USA Basketball, influenced the choice to as a substitute welcome aboard Boston Celtics teammate Derrick White. Brown isn’t a Nike-sponsored athlete, and the 27-year-old has been closely vital of the billion-dollar company’s ethics up to now.
Nevertheless, one other window of alternative may open for Brown — but once more.
“If issues change and it turns into clear that (Kevin) Durant can’t play on the Olympics, Brown’s title may resurface as a substitute,” in keeping with Joe Vardon of The Athletic.
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Durant is therapeutic from a calf damage, which Group USA head coach Steve Kerr revealed makes the 35-year-old unlikely to play in Monday’s Olympic exhibition matchup in opposition to Australia. The severity of the damage is unclear.
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Jrue Vacation, one among three Celtics teammates chosen forward of Brown, was the one prior exception — other than White — of Group USA’s brass favoring function gamers over stars. In reality, White is the one roster member with out a number of All-Star appearances to his title. Historically, USA Basketball has nearly at all times leaned on the NBA’s star energy when assembling its Olympic crew, and this predominately remained the case in 2024, too.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker don’t precisely match the “role-player” mould.
“It’s important to construct a group. And one of many hardest issues is leaving folks off the roster that I’m a fan of, that I stay up for watching all through the season, all through the playoffs,” USA males’s nationwide group managing director Grant Hill informed reporters Wednesday, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports activities Boston. “Guys who’ve been Finals MVP, guys who’ve been part of this system, guys who’ve gained gold medals. Guys who I respect, admire and luxuriate in watching. However the duty that I’ve is to place collectively a group and a group that enhances one another.”
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Brown, who final season averaged 23 factors on 49.9% taking pictures from the ground, didn’t present a lot of a response when attending Thursday night time’s ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, however does stay adamant on an uncovered issue working behind the scenes.
“It feels nice to have help, and someday I’ll share my story,” Brown informed Sports activities Illustrated. “Individuals don’t have all the knowledge on this planet that they’d wish to know. It simply feels nice to be right here on the ESPYs and to be holding up the Larry O’Brien.”
Group USA nonetheless has 4 showcase contests, together with Monday’s in opposition to Australia, earlier than heading to Paris to open up the Olympic group play of video games in opposition to Serbia on July 28.
