Team USA is set to face Serbia in their first group-stage game in Paris. All seems well, with KD‘s hopeful return and the excitement to see the team’s talents on full display. However, one player snubbed from the team is still not happy with his position. Derrick White was chosen to replace Kawhi Leonard, leading fans to question why the USAB team didn’t pick the reigning Finals MVP, Jaylen Brown. Many possible reasons could explain this decision, but one stands out.

Jaylen Brown and Nike have had ongoing friction in the past few years. Nike handles the jerseys and other details for the Olympics, especially for Team USA, and they may have a say in who gets to play. Connecting the dots, Nike might be the reason why Brown isn’t in Paris. Right before the start of the first group-stage game, Brown called out Grant Hill on Twitter. “Grant Hill calling me a conspiracy theorist is disappointing I’ve been a VP since I was 21 years old I have a great understanding”, wrote Brown.

Hill defended his position, stating that choosing White was purely a basketball decision. Did it sit well with Brown? Not at all, as the 27-year-old considers himself to have a good understanding of such matters. Hill referred to the conspiracy theory on a recent episode of the Dan Patrick Show. But what is the Nike controversy? To put things into perspective, Jaylen Brown wore Adidas until 2021 when his contract expired. Since then, the Celtics have been wearing Nikes, but without the swoosh.

Brown would remove the swoosh from his Kobes before every game. He called out Nike when the brand decided to cut ties with Kyrie Irving, igniting tensions between him and the brand. If Nike had any influence on the addition of new players, it could have been the reason for Brown’s snub. However, Grant Hill has rejected all such claims. Despite Brown deserving a spot on the roster, some reasons might explain otherwise.

Does Grant Hill hate Jaylen Brown?

On the Dan Patrick Show, Hill emphasized that adding White to the roster was purely a basketball decision. “I spoke to his agent, I don’t know if that was before or after things went out on Twitter, but yeah, I think this idea that there’s a conspiracy theory. I always love a good conspiracy theory, but it was really truly a basketball decision and these are tough decisions. But having gone through this with the FIBA competition, you want to find the right balance and the right pieces on the court that we needed.”, said Hill.

The assembled roster already includes players like Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Jayson Tatum, all of whom share similar talents and outputs. Brown brings the same to the table. Team USA needed a 3-and-D player who could be aggressive on both ends of the floor. While they already have Holiday to take care of this role, injuries were a significant concern during the camp. Given Holiday’s workload, if he were to get injured, Derrick White would be the player to replace him.

Overall, this is how the USAB made the decision to pick White instead of Brown. Although it’s undeniable that Brown deserves to be on the team and is a perfect replacement for Leonard, questions about Nike’s influence persist. It’s safe to say that Brown is still not happy being at home instead of Paris. No one can blame him, considering he has three very close teammates representing the USA. As we move forward, the Celtics’ front office will have to address several issues before training camp starts.

What are your thoughts on Brown’s situation? Do you think he should have been on the roster instead of White? Let us know in the comments.

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