Jayson Tatum had little to say about the latest controversy involving his Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown, who was left off the Team USA roster for the upcoming OlympiJayson Tatum had little to say about the latest controversy involving his Boston Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown, who was left off the Team USA roster for the upcoming Olympics. Brown, snubbed from the initial squad and overlooked as a replacement for Kawhi Leonard, has voiced his displeasure on social media.
Team USA opted to add fellow Celtic Derrick White to fill Leonard’s spot, prompting Brown to react with raised eyebrows emojis and a pointed comment at Nike, the main sponsor of USA Basketball. Brown, an Adidas athlete, has a complicated relationship with Nike.
When asked if he had spoken to Brown about the situation, Tatum gave a succinct response. “Ah, no,” he said. He added, “I mean, there’s so many guys that could, you know, take that last spot or whatever.”
Tatum and Brown recently led the Celtics to an NBA title, with Brown averaging 23.9 points during the regular season and being named NBA Finals MVP.
FS1’s Skip Bayless speculated on “Undisputed” that Tatum’s nonchalant response might indicate tension between the two stars. “This smacks of, it smells like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen [Brown] just don’t really get along,” Bayless said.
Jayson Tatum was asked about whether or not he has spoken to Jaylen Brown, and if it's hard not having him a part of Team USA 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/V5VIcxAGzd
— Celtics on NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSCeltics) July 11, 2024
The relationship between Tatum and Brown has been a topic of discussion for years. However, after their championship win, Tatum reflected on their evolving dynamic, noting how they’ve learned to coexist and appreciate each other’s roles.
Team USA managing director Grant Hill addressed the decision to choose White over Brown, emphasizing that it wasn’t influenced by brand affiliations. “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… Guys who’ve been Finals MVP, guys who have been a part of the program, guys who’ve won gold medals.”
Hill also praised White’s adaptability, noting that his role on Team USA would mirror his contributions to the Celtics. “He plays alongside two incredibly great young players in Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum,” Hill said.
As Tatum, White, and the rest of Team USA prepare for an Olympic warmup against Australia on July 15 in Abu Dhabi, the focus shifts to the court, leaving the off-court drama behind.
"This smacks of, it smells like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen just don’t really get along." – Skip Bayless pic.twitter.com/Wx2TLiN3gz
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 11, 2024
