Former Celtic Says Team USA's Handling of Tatum and Brown 'Ruined Everything'

Bobby Krivitsky | Aug 20, 2024

Jun 17, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) celebrates with guard Jaylen Brown (7) after a play against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter in game five of the 2024 NBA Finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports / Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

At Summer League in Las Vegas, about a month after winning his first NBA championship, Jaylen Brown told this author that he's already turned the page to Banner 19.

"You get more motivation to follow it," said this year's Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP. "So, for me, it's back to ground one. So, my mindset is, championship, it's over now, and now we've got to get back to work."

He also shared that his Olympic snub is an added source of fuel that has him "Super fired up. I've got all the motivation in the world," stated the three-time All-Star, "I love that, honestly."

Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports

And while Jayson Tatum described his experience with Team USA in Paris this summer as "challenging and humbling," he could also use it as fuel as the 26-year-old star entering the peak of his powers builds his legacy.

"They just ruined everything for the NBA now, the USA team did. Cause now they just built a dynasty. You already told Jaylen Brown he wasn't elite, so he (is) already on a revenge tour," voiced Jeff Teague on the Club 520 Podcast.

"And now you (are) telling Jayson Tatum he (is) the worst player out of all the elites, pretty much. '(Out of) all the top players in the league on the Olympic team, and you (are) telling me I'm the worst one? I'm on that.'"

John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

As Teague later pointed out, despite Tatum being the only 2023-24 All-NBA First Team selection on the U.S. men's basketball team's roster, even with Team USA trailing Serbia by double digits, entering the final frame down 13, head coach Steve Kerr thought they were better off with him on the bench. That should light a fire under Tatum.

And to Teague's point about what transpired this summer helping Boston build a dynasty, another significant development that will help the former All-Star, who had a brief stint with the Celtics in 2020-21, look prophetic is that the reigning NBA champions have eight rotation members from their title team under contract for multiple seasons.

Fifteen of the 17 players with Boston for the 2023-24 campaign, including those on two-way deals, are returning to help them try to take the next step in building the dynasty Teague warns of, which starts with receiving their championship rings and raising Banner 18 to the TD Garden rafters on Oct. 22 before tip-off of their opening night rivalry clash with the Knicks.

Warning: The following is a link to the Club 520 Podcast, which includes the use of profanity.

Further Reading

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Jayson Tatum Opens Up About 'Challenging and Humbling' Olympic Experience

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