Jaylen Brown quashes rumors of tension with teammate after Olympics snub: 'Called Derrick White "right away"'
Team USA picked Derrick White over his Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown as Kawhi Leonard’s replacement for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Many had assumed that the reigning NBA Finals MVP would get the call once Leonard stepped down. Instead of Brown, Grant Hill, USAB’s managing director, named White to the roster.
Brown was miffed with the snub, implying on X, formerly Twitter, that Nike, the team’s sponsor, had something to do with it. Hill later clarified that his decision to get White over any other player was his responsibility and duty to “build a team.” Rumors quickly surfaced that friction had developed between the two teammates.
Brown, who went to the Lakers-Celtics Summer League game on Monday, quashed those rumors. Gary Washburn had this to report in Las Vegas:
“Jaylen Brown just told us he called Derrick White ‘right away’ to congratulate him on being named to the Olympic team. Also said he wasn't surprised about being left off but is very motivated.”
Before the Olympic team was announced, Brown had already expressed his willingness and excitement to wear the national team colors. The last time he represented Team USA was in 2014 when he helped the Americans win the FIBA Americas U18 championship.
Had Grant Hill picked Jaylen Brown, “JB” would have joined Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday. Derrick White’s call, although surprising to most fans, seemed inevitable.
Team USA had already named him a possible replacement for Kawhi Leonard when “The Claw” suffered knee inflammation in the playoffs. When Leonard eventually left the team, White, the ready replacement, was called to action.
A motivated Jaylen Brown will be good for the Celtics
Jaylen Brown told the media after he was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP that he was surprised. According to him, he never wins "s**t," implying that he is repeatedly snubbed. The chip on his shoulder only worked well for the Boston Celtics who won their 18th championship behind Brown and Jayson Tatum.
Next season, the seeming snub will only add more motivation to Brown. Being left off from the Olympics will give him more fuel than ever to prove his critics wrong. Boston can thank Grant Hill for that additional boost
The last time the NBA had a repeat champion was in 2017 and 2018 when the Golden State Warriors claimed back-to-back titles. Boston will get a chance to match that feat next season. Jaylen Brown will be raring to prove people wrong again.