In the midst of Team USA’s dominating performance in Lille, there is one player who is not quite content with his role. Jaylen Brown, the dynamic Boston Celtics star, has been feeling a bit disheartened despite his team’s success on the court.
Brown, a rising star in the NBA, has been a key supporter of his country and his Celtics teammates. However, deep down he feels that he deserves a spot on the upcoming Paris Olympics roster as well. The 24-year-old guard believes that his recent accomplishments, including leading his team to victory in the Eastern Conference Finals and subsequently clinching the NBA Finals MVP title, warrant a place on the Olympic squad.
But Brown is not alone in his disappointment. Other notable players, such as Paul George of the Philadelphia 76ers and Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks, also felt snubbed by the selection committee. George, who was playing for the Los Angeles Clippers at the time, thought he had secured a spot on the roster. Meanwhile, Lillard was hopeful to represent his country on the international stage.
Grant Hill, the former NBA star and current Team USA coach, ultimately had to make some tough decisions when selecting the final roster. He opted for Derrick White over Brown, an unexpected choice that left many fans and players puzzled. Despite Brown’s limited playing time in the Olympics, where he is averaging just 4.8 points and 2.0 assists per game, his defensive contributions cannot be ignored. With impressive stats like 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game, along with a 36.4 percent shooting accuracy from beyond the arc, Brown has proven himself to be a valuable asset on both ends of the court.
In a recent interview with All The Smoke Productions, Hill stood by his decisions and defended his selections. “Look, you’ve got to do your job,” Hill explained. “I’ve tried to do this the right way.”
With the Tokyo Olympics now in full swing, fans can only wonder if more first-time Olympians will emerge in the coming years. Despite the initial disappointment, players like Brown, George, and Lillard will undoubtedly have their sights set on future opportunities to represent their country on the grandest stage of them all.
