“Jaylen Brown’s Surprising Omission from USA Basketball’s Olympic Roster”
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown drives toward the basket while Dallas Mavericks forward P.J. Washington defends and Celtics forward Jayson Tatum watches during the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday, June 17, 2024, in Boston (AP Photo/Charles Krupa).
USA Basketball has a strong roster for the men’s team at the Paris Olympics, but Jaylen Brown’s omission was surprising. Despite a career-best season, including the 2024 title and NBA Finals MVP, Brown didn’t make the team.
Following Kawhi Leonard’s withdrawal, Brown’s absence was more noticeable. Brown appeared to criticize USA Basketball and Nike on social media. Grant Hill, USA Basketball’s managing director, addressed Brown’s omission before an exhibition game against Canada in Las Vegas. Hill joked that his use of Fila during his playing career, not Nike’s influence, wasn’t the reason for Brown’s exclusion.
“This is about assembling a team,” Hill told reporters. “With the talent we have in the U.S., we only have 12 spots, and building a team is challenging. Leaving out players I admire and enjoy watching is tough, but my responsibility is to create a team that complements each other and maximizes our chances of success. Any theories out there are just that.”
Hill emphasized the limited spots available for a strong country like the USA. USA Basketball aims to win gold again, having secured gold in seven of the last eight Olympics. The team includes notable players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant.
Boston still has representation with Derrick White replacing Leonard and Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, who won gold at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. Despite Brown not making the team, 25% of the 12-man roster comes from the reigning champions.
“It’s my responsibility to make tough decisions,” Hill said. “Telling players they’re not on the team is difficult, but my goal is to put together the right pieces to win.”