Dwight Howard speaks out on Team USA's decision to snub Jaylen Brown and Kyrie Irving: "It is crazy"
After the exclusion of the current 2024 Finals MVP, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown and Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving. NBA veteran center Dwight Howard also has concerns over the controversy surrounding Team USA for the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics squad, specifically questioning their snubs from the Olympic team squad.
The three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard, an NBA champion with the LA Lakers and himself a Team USA gold medalist in 2008, expressed his disappointment in a recent tweet posted on X, formerly known as "Twitter," saying:
"No Jaylen brown or Kyrie on team USA is crazy"
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP and a three-time All-Star, averaged 23 points per game last season for the Celtics while shooting 49.9% from the field, leading them to the NBA Championship.
Kyrie Irving, an NBA champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, is known for his elite offensive skills and clutch performances, which helped the Mavericks reach the NBA Finals for the first time since their 2011 championship. He averaged a solid 25.6 points and 5.7 assists per game in the 2023-24 season.
While the official reasons for the snubs have not been known, but Irving has appeared in more than his fair share of national news stories over his stance regarding vaccinations and controversies regarding his antisemitic social media posts. Meanwhile, Brown is becoming an offensive force, which could theoretically mean some defensive slippag for voters.
Grant Hill clarifies Jaylen Brown's omission amid NBA Finals MVP criticism
Team USA's decision to go with Derrick White over Jaylen Brown as Kawhi Leonard's injury replacement for the Paris Olympics has Boston Celtics fans scratching their heads. Jaylen Brown, who had just wrapped up an incredible performance in the NBA Finals and was named the Finals MVP, was expected to be next. Team USA managing director Grant Hill has finally shed some light on the decision.
Grant Hill addressed the selection in a recent press conference before Team USA's exhibition game against Canada. Hill was questioned by the reporters about the reason of Brown's omission from the Olympic squad. While Hill didn't go into specifics, he emphasized finding the right fit for the team's existing dynamic, saying:
"You have to build a team. And one of the hardest things is leaving people off the roster that I'm a fan of, that I look forward to watching throughout the season, throughout the playoffs. Guys who've been Finals MVP, guys who have been a part of the program, guys who've won gold medals. Guys who I respect, admire and enjoy watching. But the responsibility that I have is to put together a team and a team that complements each other," Hill said. [H/T Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston]
Brown's scoring prowess and defensive contributions throughout the NBA season had many believing he was a sure-shot selection for the national team.
Jaylen Brown tweeted back on X, formerly known as "Twitter," in apparent response to the snub calling out Nike and admonishing Team USA for not including him. Brown has been critical of the shoe brand in light of them parting ways with Kyrie Irving, so it would be easy to think that they have an axe to grind against him.
Grant Hill had to lay that conspiracy theory to rest, explaining that he was a Fila athlete and works for Team USA.
"For a good portion of my career, I wore Fila. That was supposed to be a joke. We're proud of our partners, obviously, here in Team USA. This is about putting together a team," Hill said. [H/T Ben Golliver of the Washington Post]"
It does not take away the disappointment for Brown, who was surely eager to compete at the world's largest sports stage. On the other hand, Hill's statements confirmed that Brown was capable of making Team USA. It also indicates that their decision to leave him off of it likely had more to do with maximizing Team USA potential and chemistry.