"So many guys that could take the last spot" - Jayson Tatum appears flustered when questioned about Jaylen Brown snub
This week, Jaylen Brown was passed over for a chance to join Team USA after Kawhi Leonard's surprising withdrawal. While Leonard had joined Team USA for their training camp in preparation for their slate of International Friendly games leading up to the Olympics, he, Team USA, and the LA Clippers decided it would be best for him to withdraw.
Immediately, there was talk of who could wind up replacing the two-way star, with Shams Charania reporting that Celtics guard Derrick White was the leading favorite. Despite that, some fans suggested that Kyrie Irving, or reigning Finals MVP Jaylen Brown deserved the spot over White.
Ultimately, however, Team USA made the decision to select Derrick White to join the roster, leaving Brown stumped. According to Jayson Tatum, who spoke with media members on Thursday morning following Team USA's win over Team Canada on Wednesday, he hasn't spoken to Jaylen Brown about the situation.
After Tatum was asked whether he had spoken with Brown, he was then asked if it was tough being there without his Boston Celtics co-star.
"I mean there's so many guys that could, you know, take that last spot or whatever. So, yeah it is."
As many were quick to point out, Tatum was likely in an awkward spot given that Team USA's decision to select Derrick White over Jaylen Brown may have caused some friction among the three Boston Celtics teammates.
"You have to build a team" - Grant Hill opens up on decision to select Derrick White as Kawhi Leonard's replacement rather than Jaylen Brown
After it was announced that Derrick White would be filling in for Kawhi Leonard, rather than Jaylen Brown, the reigning Finals MVP took to social media to react. Sharing a series of emojis, Brown made it clear that he was confused by the team's decision to pass him over.
In addition, he also called out Nike, suggesting the company may have had something to do with the decision given that he had previously called them out.
While White is a standout defender who led the league in blocks by a point guard last year and showed that he's capable of impacting winning at the highest level, the decision to pass over a Finals MVP was seen as strange by many fans and analysts.
On Wednesday, Team USA men's managing director Grant Hill spoke with media members about the situation, opening up on the team's decision:
"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."
Based on Brown's posts on social media, it sounds as though he isn't frustrated with the USA Basketball program, but rather Nike. In a follow-up on X, formerly known as Twitter, he sent a message that many believe was intended for Nike, as seen below:
With the Brown-Nike feud apparently just getting started, it will be interesting to see how things play out for the remainder of the offseason.