Inside The Celtics

Brad Stevens Addresses Jaylen Brown Getting Left Off Team USA

Bobby Krivitsky

Oct 2, 2023; Boston, Celtics, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talks during Boston Celtics Media Day. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2023; Boston, Celtics, USA; Boston Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens talks during Boston Celtics Media Day. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
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On Monday night at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Jaylen Brown addressed getting left off Team USA's men's basketball roster for the Summer Olympics in Paris.

"I wasn't surprised, but my reaction was I was happy for D. White," said this year's NBA Finals MVP during halftime of the Celtics' 88-74 win over the Lakers at Summer League. "It's dope to have so much of our guys on there, so I was happy for those guys, but I wasn't surprised."

It's an added source of motivation for Brown, who "for sure" believes Nike played a role in excluding him from representing his country in Paris this summer.

On Wednesday, during halftime of Boston's second-straight Summer League victory, an 89-84 win over the Hornets, Celtics' president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens, shared his thoughts on the reigning NBA champions comprising 25 percent of Team USA's men's basketball roster but Brown not getting chosen.

"I don't think there's any doubt that Jaylen could be on any team; (he) could be on any Olympic team in any year, right? But at the end of the day, I think his approach, and he talked about how he called Derrick, (and) he talked about his own feelings from it. But I know this about Jaylen: Whether he has success and gets all the accolades, like Finals MVP or Eastern Conference Finals MVP, or if he feels like he got left off a team, I know he's gonna be motivated and hungry regardless; that's what I've always loved about him. He always comes back to work."

Coming off a season of evolution and helping lead Boston to Banner 18, utilizing getting left off Team USA's roster as added fuel could help Brown reach new heights, a development that would go a long way toward the Celtics' quest to defend their title, a goal the three-time All-Star told Inside The Celtics he's already turned the page to focusing on.

Further Reading

D.J. MacLeay Shares How Baylor Scheierman Impressed Him in Celtics Win vs. Lakers

After Saturday's Struggles, Jordan Walsh Returning to What Works Best

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Summer League Opener vs. Heat

Jayson Tatum Cried Upon Learning He's NBA2K25 Cover Athlete

Celtics Rookie Anton Watson Shares Brad Stevens' Message to Him

Celtics' Coaching Staff Changes Match Theme of Boston's Offseason

Celtics Roster, Salary Cap Breakdown After Whirlwind Start to Free Agency

New Details about Plan to Sell Majority Stake in Celtics Revealed

Brad Stevens Shares His Outlook on Celtics' Draft Picks

Al Horford, Raising Cane's, and a Region that Loves Him

On Derrick White and the Fuel for Unprecedented Journey to NBA's Best Role Player

Jayson Tatum, an NBA Champion Entering Peak of His Powers

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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