After starting off the summer in great fashion, Brown and the Celtics have had an offseason filled with drama and controversy.
Fresh off of an NBA Championship, the Boston Celtics have had nothing short of an eventful summer, extending pivotal pieces from their championship core, Jayson Tatum and Derrick White. Fans were delighted by the news, as the team will be competing for another championship in the foreseeable future.
On a less positive note, their superstar center Kristaps Porziņģis underwent surgery to repair his left ankle, sidelining him for the start of the season.
To make matters worse, the team’s ownership group announced that they would be selling the team in 2025. With seemingly more news to come, the one bright spot throughout their entire off-season has been the 2024 Olympics.
Celtics’ Olympic Trio
Brown’s exclusion from Team USA stirring up some serious controversy
After Kawhi Leonard withdrew from the competition, he was quickly replaced by White, making him the third Celtic to join the Team USA roster. Alongside his teammates Jrue Holiday and Tatum, the three will be representing the city of Boston well, as they set out to win the gold.
However, to the surprise of many, the reigning Finals MVP himself did not receive an invitation.
Brown had an outstanding year, doing away with any criticism that was thrown his way and leading his team to an NBA title.
During their championship run, Brown showed elite poise and mental toughness, defending the opposing team’s best wing player while lighting them up on the offensive end.
Not only is Brown one of the best two-way players in the league currently, but he expressed just how important the opportunity to play for Team USA was early in the season.
“Playing for USA Basketball, there is no greater honor.”
– Brown during Celtics’ 2023 Media Day, via NBC Sports
Throughout his career, Brown has displayed his leadership skills both on and off the court in a multitude of ways. Known for his activism, he has never been afraid to speak his mind on political matters.
Though noble in his own right, his efforts could prove to be a detriment to his overall image, but he has yet to shy away from giving his opinion.
ESPN analyst and TV host, Stephen A. Smith suggested that Brown’s outspokenness may end up being the root of his downfall.
Brown immediately pushed back on Smith’s comments, declaring that he “state his sources,” but after getting passed up for the second time, there may be some truth in his statement after all.
Is Brown Being Blackballed?
Brown’s exclusion is bigger than basketball
Many, including Brown, have speculated that his exclusion from the roster was completely intentional.
Brown has used his platform to shed light on various issues, becoming an active critic of many corporate giants, most notably Nike.
Brown has called out Nike on numerous occasions, the most recent being July 10th, shortly after White was announced as Leonard’s replacement, Brown took to social media and blamed Nike for the entire incident.
Nike is one of Team USA’s biggest sponsors, and if they did want Brown excluded from the team, they would certainly have the power to do so.
After Brown’s comments, Smith chimed in yet again, asking Brown if his sources were still needed.
Though his comments seem negative, Smith may very well have Brown’s best interest in heart.
With the Olympics in full swing, NBA Hall of Famer Grant Hill gave some insight on their decision to leave Brown off the roster, but Brown immediately responded to Hill’s comments, saying that his absence was much more than a conspiracy.
Even with Hill’s explanation, many still question the decision and support Brown in his outrage. Even Tatum spoke out recently, showing his support for Brown, something he admittedly failed to do in the past.
Some fans see it as no coincidence that since Tatum, the only American-born player to get All-NBA first team nods, spoke out, he failed to see a single minute of Olympic action.
| 2023-24 All-NBA First Team | |
|---|---|
| Players | Nationality |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Canadian |
| Luka Dončić | Slovenian |
| Jayson Tatum | American |
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | Greek |
| Nikola Jokić | Serbian |
If Brown is indeed being “blackballed”, it may be wise for him to take Smith’s advice, but are accolades truly more important to him than speaking his mind?
Brown has always spoken freely, and it is hard to imagine that he would stop now. With the 2024-25 NBA season fast approaching, fans will see once and for all just where Brown’s priorities lie.
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