Jaylen Brown will not play with Team USA in the upcoming Olympics, even though many fans thought he’d be the perfect replacement for the injured Kawhi Leonard.
Team USA managing director Grant Hill said the decision to not use Brown was simply strategic and about building the best possible team.
But other people think Brown was overlooked for another reason.
Speaking to NBC Sports Boston, Cedric Maxwell claimed that Brown didn’t get a roster spot because of his outspoken criticism against shoe giant Nike.
He said that Nike has a close relationship with Team USA and, therefore, is able to approve or disapprove players.
Why was Jaylen Brown left off Team USA basketball?@cedricmaxwell81 weighs in
pic.twitter.com/wRjPG17Uq5
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) July 12, 2024
Nike has been the apparel provider for the national basketball team for many years.
As for Brown, he has been a critic of the massive company and has never held back his thoughts about it.
A few years ago, Brown pushed back against Nike’s decision to distance itself from Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving.
He later covered up the “swoosh” logo on his Nike shoes, which only further disrupted any relationship between him and the company.
Brown himself has made some cryptic comments online since missing out on a spot with Team USA.
He seems to agree with Maxwell and thinks that Nike had a hand in him not being in the Olympics.
The controversy about Brown and Team USA hasn’t gone away over the last few days and there is a chance it will hang around for a while, even when the Olympics begin.
There is no doubt that this incident will only create a bigger divide between Brown and Nike.
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