After Team USA chose Derrick White over Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, a lot of people took up arms to criticize that decision. For them, leaving out the Boston Celtics All-Star wing was seen as a travesty.
The feud between Celtics star Jaylen Brown and USA Basketball has escalated over Brown’s snub from the U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team. Brown was not selected for the original roster announced in April, and then missed out again when his Celtics teammate Derrick White was chosen to replace Kawhi Leonard.
Grant Hill, the managing director of the U.S. men’s basketball team, explained that the decision to pick White over Brown was based on the team’s need for a point guard who could play strong defense. Hill dismissed Brown’s suggestion of a “conspiracy theory” behind the decision, stating it was purely a basketball decision.
However, Brown clapped back, criticizing Hill’s use of the term “conspiracy theory” and noting his own experience as a vice president of the NBPA. Brown also retweeted a post about sneaker politics at the Olympics, referencing the 1992 Dream Team saga where Michael Jordan covered up the Reebok logo.
This is not the first time Brown has been embroiled in issues related to conspiracy theories, having previously retweeted a post about the COVID-19 vaccine. As such, the tension between Brown and USA Basketball over his exclusion from the Olympic team isn’t going to end anytime soon.
Former NBA Star Kenny Anderson Questions Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Being Snubbed By Team USA
Brown’s exclusion from the national team has been drawing a lot of takes during the past few months. The most recent was from former NBA star Kenny Anderson, in a tweet he posted on his official X account.
“How can you leave an Mvp of the @NBA,finals off @usabasketball team jaylen brown!!!!” Anderson tweeted.
Last season, Brown averaged 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. During the playoffs, the Celtics All-Star notched 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per contest on his way to winning the championship and the Finals MVP.
It remains to be seen how Brown will respond on the court when the new season begins later this year. What’s certain, though, is that his snub will still generate some buzz as Team USA continues on its quest to win the gold in Paris this year.
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