Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] The decision to leave Jaylen Brown off the Team USA roster surprised some, but those responsible for assembling the team insist that Nike had no influence.
Kawhi Leonard withdrew from Team USA on Wednesday due to a lingering knee injury and was quickly replaced by Derrick White. This move reunited White with his Boston Celtics teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday for the Paris Olympics.
Why not Jaylen Brown? Brown shared cryptic emojis on social media after the White announcement and tagged Nike in a separate post, writing, “this what we doing?” Speculation arose that Brown was excluded from the roster due to his past criticisms of Nike, which has been a prominent sponsor of Team USA for years.
NBA legend Grant Hill, USA Basketball’s managing director, addressed this theory during his press conference on Wednesday. He humorously noted that he wore Fila for much of his career and emphasized the difficulty of assembling a team of just 12 players.
“We’re proud of our partners at USA Basketball, but this is about putting together a team. … You’ve got 12 spots, and you have to build a team,” Hill said. “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 have been Finals MVPs, guys who have been a part of the program, guys who have 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 compliments each other, a team that fits, a team that will give us the best opportunity for success. Whatever theories that might be out there, they’re just that.”
Supporters of the Nike theory also note that Kyrie Irving, a former Nike athlete who was dropped by the company in 2022 and subsequently criticized them, was left off the Team USA roster as well.
White, known for his above-average defense and ability to play a complimentary role, was seen as a good fit for the team. These factors likely influenced Team USA’s decision, despite Brown’s belief that other reasons were at play.