NBA Rumors: Jaylen Brown Could Still Possibly Join Team USA

Jaylen Brown took issue with being overlooked by Team USA following Kawhi Leonard’s untimely injury, which opened up a roster spot that wasn’t offered to the reigning NBA Finals MVP and three-time All-Star.

Brown took to social media to express his displeasure and beliefs that Nike, the lead sponsor for USA Basketball, influenced the decision to instead welcome aboard Boston Celtics teammate Derrick White. Brown isn’t a Nike-sponsored athlete, and the 27-year-old has been heavily critical of the billion-dollar corporation’s ethics in the past.

However, another window of opportunity might open for Brown — yet again.

“If things change and it becomes clear that (Kevin) Durant can’t play at the Olympics, Brown’s name could resurface as a replacement,” according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic.

Durant is healing from a calf injury, which Team USA head coach Steve Kerr revealed makes the 35-year-old unlikely to play in Monday’s Olympic exhibition matchup against Australia. The severity of the injury is unclear.

Jrue Holiday, one of three Celtics teammates chosen ahead of Brown, was the only prior exception — aside from White — of Team USA’s brass favoring role players over stars. In fact, White is the only roster member without multiple All-Star appearances to his name. Traditionally, USA Basketball has almost always leaned on the NBA’s star power when assembling its Olympic crew, and this predominately remained the case in 2024, too.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker don’t exactly fit the “role-player” mold.

“You have to build a team. And 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,” USA men’s national team managing director Grant Hill told reporters Wednesday, per Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. “Guys who’ve been Finals MVP, guys who have been a part of the program, guys who’ve 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 complements each other.”

Brown, who last season averaged 23 points on 49.9% shooting from the floor, didn’t provide much of a response when attending Thursday night’s ESPY Awards in Los Angeles, but does remain adamant on an uncovered factor working behind the scenes.

“It feels great to have support, and one day I’ll share my story,” Brown told Sports Illustrated. “People don’t have all the information in the world that they’d like to know. It just feels great to be here at the ESPYs and to be holding up the Larry O’Brien.”

Team USA still has four showcase contests, including Monday’s against Australia, before heading to Paris to open up the Olympic group play of games against Serbia on July 28.