Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Dodged Question About Team USA Snub at ESPY Awards

The Boston star didn't have much to say.

Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown kept his drama off the red carpet at Thursday night’s ESPY Awards.

One day after the United States men’s Olympic basketball team chose Brown’s teammate, Derrick White, to replace Kawhi Leonard on its 12-man squad, Brown refused to entertain suggestive questions from former NFL quarterback Cam Newton about his arguable snub.

“How do you feel about the USA team right now, bro,” Newton asked Brown. “Why aren’t you there? Do you feel a way?”

“I ain’t really got no comment, you know what I mean,” Brown said. “I got my beautiful date right there.”

“He’s trying to deflect, ladies and gentlemen,” Newton said.

Cam Newton: “How do you feel about the USA Team right now bro?”

Jaylen Brown: “What do you mean?”

Cam: “Why aren’t you there? Do you feel a way?”

Jaylen: “I ain't really got no comment. I'm with my beautiful date tonight.”

(via @ClutchPoints)

pic.twitter.com/UGZfc8fg1Q

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 12, 2024

He also said this to Sports Illustrated: "It feels great to have support and one day I will share my story. People don't have all the information in the world that they would like to know. It just feels great to be here at the ESPYs and holding up the Larry O'Brien."

Jaylen Brown talks about the support he’s received from NBA fans who think he should be on Team USA 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/2YLN770xE8

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 12, 2024

Brown’s decision to stay mum comes after the Celtics forward posted a series of cryptic tweets that seemed to suggest he was snubbed from Team USA due to his past criticism of Nike, the team’s official sponsor. 

“Im not afraid of you or your resources,” Brown posted on Thursday.

Brown, who won 2024 NBA Finals MVP during the Celtics’ title run, ended up taking home the ESPY for “Best Championship Performance.” The three-time All-Star averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in the five-game series victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Three Celtics players—White, Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday—will represent Boston for Team USA in this summer’s Paris Olympics as the team chases its fifth straight Olympic gold.