As the entire basketball world knows, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White was chosen over teammate Jaylen Brown for Team USA.
Despite some online speculation about potential tension, the two Celtics stars maintain a solid relationship, debunking any rumors of ill will.
Both White and Brown were pivotal in the Celtics’ recent NBA championship run. However, White, along with teammates Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, received the call to join the national team.
Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, was left off the roster even after Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers withdrew.
Brown, who had expressed his desire to compete in the Olympics, remained supportive of White.
According to White, Brown reached out to clear any misunderstandings, affirming their mutual respect and camaraderie.
“Jaylen gave me a call and I was like, ‘Yeah, you didn’t need to call me. I know we’re good,’” White said. “He gave me a call and said he just wanted to clear things up and I told him we’re all good. Never any problem or issue with us, for sure. He’s a hell of a player and I’ve never had a bad thing to say about JB.”
The exclusion of Brown has sparked theories about the decision-making process.
Brown hinted that Nike played a role in keeping him off the team. Given Nike’s prominent role in the team’s branding and Brown’s past criticisms of the company, some believe this influenced the roster choices.
Brown previously defended former teammate Kyrie Irving when Nike ended its partnership with him, which may have strained his relationship with the brand.
Grant Hill, the managing director of USA Men’s National Team, dismissed these conspiracy theories, attributing Brown’s omission to tough basketball decisions.
Hill, a former Olympic gold medalist, emphasized the complexity and difficulty of selecting the final roster.
“This idea that there’s a conspiracy theory,” he said on Friday in reference to Brown’s exclusion. “I always love a good conspiracy theory, but it was really truly a basketball decision. And these are tough decisions.”
Meanwhile, Team USA’s performance has been strong, winning all their exhibition games and dominating Serbia in their first group match.
White contributed off the bench with a solid defensive performance, while Tatum, surprisingly, did not play in the opening game but is expected to participate against South Sudan.
As the Celtics gear up for the 2024-25 season, both White and Brown are poised to continue their successful partnership on the court.
Their shared goal of leading Boston to another championship remains unwavering, underscoring the strength of their relationship amid Olympic selection controversies.