Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown really wasn’t a fan of USA Basketball director Grant Hill passing him over for a spot on Team USA after Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard bowed out of the Paris Olympics.
On Sunday morning, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP expressed disappointment with comments Hill recently made on The Dan Patrick Show.
“I spoke to (Brown’s) agent,” Hill reveals. “…Before or after things went out on Twitter.”
“I think this idea that there’s a conspiracy there – I always love a good conspiracy theory, but it was really truly a basketball decision and these are tough decisions…”
“I’ve been a (vice president of the National Basketball Player Association) since I was 21 years old,” Brown writes in response.
grant hill calling me a conspiracy theorist is disappointing I’ve been a VP since I was 21 years old I have a great understanding
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) July 28, 2024
“I have a great understanding.”
Jaylen Brown Fires Back At Grant Hill Amid Olympics Controversy
Brown has been vocal about his belief that Nike influences Team USA’s roster decisions. Nike is a key sponsor of USA Basketball, and half of Team USA’s roster has signed an endorsement deal with them. With that being said, Brown not only isn’t a Nike athlete, he’s been critical of them on a public platform.
When Nike cut ties with Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving for posting antisemitic content on Twitter, Brown responded with “since when did Nike care about ethics?”
Since when did Nike care about ethics? https://t.co/f8t2eY994v
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) November 10, 2022
To Brown’s point, Nike hasn’t exactly been the paragon of morality. For decades, they’ve been accused of running sweatshops. In 2018, they were sued for gender discrimination and sexual harassment.
Despite a progressive image, Nike founder Phil Knight is a registered Republican who has made a fair share of party donations. This last fact may not be evidence of him being an unethical person. Nonetheless, at this time, the Republican Party has touted itself as a threat to American democracy.
All of that being said, it’s definitely possible that Brown got on Nike’s bad side with his critique. Due to Nike’s status as a USA Basketball partner, this could have affected whether he was selected for Team USA.
It’s also possible that Hill just didn’t want Brown on the team.
Frankly, it’s the second time the 51-year-old chose another player over him. As myriad superstars revealed their commitment to Team USA for the Paris Olympics, the roster spot occupied by Leonard was the only one unfilled. Even then, Celtics guard Derrick White was considered the favorite for the final spot. However, they chose Leonard, a two-time NBA champion, two-time NBA Finals MVP, and two-time Defensive Player of the Year.
White’s rise in popularity couldn’t overshadow his resume.
Curious, Very Curious
It does seem strange though.
Though Team USA went 5-0 in their pre-Olympic exhibitions, it wasn’t easy or pretty. White played sparingly. Even more interesting were the weaknesses Team USA displayed. They struggled to defend the perimeter, the offense went through lulls, and they didn’t play with consistent energy or effort.
These are all areas in which Brown excels.
As a result, the idea that he doesn’t fit the roster holds less weight than ever. That’s without considering the fact that Brown was never asked if he would accept a reduced role with Team USA. This despite him playing on a stacked Celtics roster featuring four starters with at least one All-Star selection.
