NBA Champion! Finals MVP! Even after adding these accolades to his resume, Jaylen Brown got snubbed from the Paris Olympics team. So, it is understandable why he was left fuming and called those out who he believed were responsible. But what if JB never won these accolades? Would his ‘achiever mode’ still be on, and would he think about making the biggest rosters and lifting the brightest silverware? Well, NBA legend Gilbert Arenas certainly doesn’t think so as he pointed out a certain “delusion” out there.

While addressing if the Jaylen Brown snub from Team USA would affect the Celtics’ locker room chemistry next season, Arenas remarked, “I think somewhat of delusion is part of the Jaylen Brown situation. Before he won the awards, does he think he would have been on that team? Probably not.” Before JB’s heroics in this year’s playoffs, most people would instantly deem Jayson Tatum the best player on the Celtics roster. Surely, some would do it even today, despite his scoring partner’s stacked trophy cabinet.

Moreover, Jaylen Brown’s shell-shocked reaction when he won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP showed how habitual he had become of not getting his talent recognized. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I don’t never win s—,” he said. So, it might not have been very surprising to him if he did not make the cut for Team USA had he not been named the MVP in the series against Dallas. However, Rashad McCants denied Arenas’ claim, saying, “I think he thought he would have had an opportunity or invite. Maybe not be on it.”

But the 3x NBA All-Star countered with, “Before we started the playoffs or that season like he’s never been invited.” Yes, despite being in the NBA for eight years, JB has never had a chance to participate in the Olympics. And Agent Zero pointed out on The Gil’s Arena pod that he didn’t even get invited to last year’s FIBA World Cup where USA Basketball sent their young talent instead of big-name superstars. So, the only things that have changed since then are Brown’s accolades and expectations.

Did Derrick White’s selection make the situation more bitter for Jaylen Brown?

Well, when Team USA was initially announced in April, Jaylen Brown was not too vocal about himself being snubbed. Maybe some of it had to do with him being focused on winning a championship with the Celtics at the time. However, the situation escalated after Kawhi Leonard controversially withdrew from the team and the selection committee picked JB’s teammate Derrick White instead of him. As good a player as White is, most would agree that Tatum‘s scoring partner is a far better hooper and a bigger star.

Gilbert Arenas’ podcast panel wondered if the “fourth lead” of the movie getting selected, where JB was ‘the star’, hurt Jaylen Brown’s ego and feelings further. However, the former Warrior countered once again, asking, “Is it their fault or is it your expectations?” Then, Arenas capped it off with a hilarious analogy, “Like if I take a girl out to eat, and I pull up in a Maybach, her expectation: ‘we’re going somewhere nice.’ And if I pulled up to the Cheesecake, she disappointed!”

While JB has voiced his issues with the selection process, he has clarified that his relationship with Derrick White remains strong. “I called Derrick right away. Just to make sure there’s no confusion, my love for you and all of that. He knew that. Me and D-White are good.” And with the Paris Olympics in the rear-view mirror, the Celtics nation is hoping Jaylen Brown uses the snub as motivation and helps his team climb the mountaintop for the second straight year. What are your thoughts?