Grant Hill reveals the truth behind Jaylen Brown’s Team USA snub
Two years later, Grant Hill has revisited Jaylen Brown’s omission from Team USA, rejecting claims that Nike influenced the final roster decision
A third career All-Star selection, a breakout postseason, and an NBA championship capped by Finals MVP honors all seemed to make Jaylen Brown a lock for Team USA’s Olympic squad in Paris. Instead, the only Boston Celtics players to make the roster were Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.
At the time, several insiders pointed to what appeared to be a logical explanation for Brown’s omission: his past criticism of Nike, the official sponsor of USA Basketball.
But in recent days, Grant Hill, who still serves as Team USA’s general manager, dismissed that widely circulated narrative during an appearance on the Road Trippin Show podcast.
After emphasizing that Brown’s relationship with the shoe company had absolutely no bearing on the decision, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist acknowledged his own responsibility for the tension that emerged during his phone call with the new Philadelphia 76ers star.
When I announced the roster, there were some guys I called before Woj and Shams broke the news. I called Lillard, Jimmy Butler – I tried to call everybody because you never know how someone is going to react otherwise. You want to show those guys the respect of hearing it directly from me
Grant Hill
Hill then explained how the conversation with Brown unfolded.
I called Jaylen. We had a great conversation. An incredible conversation. But somewhere along the way, something broke down. And rather than making this about a shoe company, guys, you can criticize my leadership
Grant Hill
Hill also reflected on the scrutiny that comes with leading Team USA.
You can criticize how I put the roster together. When you’re in a role like mine, you’re opening yourself up to criticism, and you accept that. But to suggest that a shoe company dictated what I should do…
Grant Hill
While some analysts viewed Team USA’s triumphant run in France as the end of an era, the desire to bring the FIBA World Cup back to the United States after consecutive disappointments could delay a full generational transition.
Regardless of what happens around the program, the feeling is that Grant Hill may give Jaylen Brown another call next summer. The former Celtics star appears to be an ideal fit to bridge the gap between established veterans and the next generation of rising talent.