Payton Pritchard Defends Jaylen Brown Expressing Olympic Snub Frustration

Rob Greene | Aug 9, 2024

May 23, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) and Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) practice before the game for game two of the eastern conference finals for the 2024 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports / David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

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Payton Pritchard recently joined Evan Turner and Andre Iguodala’s podcast, Point Forward, where the electric, championship guard discussed Jaylen Brown’s comments regarding Team USA and how he felt about his Olympic snub.

“Let him speak,” Pritchard said. “I don’t think Derrick felt any type of way at all. I think we’re all brothers at the end of the day.”

“When I saw it, just not even having the consideration to put him on was confusing to me, just because I think Jaylen is a top-level player like that. He fits everything that they need. He can defend, he can play any role, and I think he would accept that.”

Pritchard also took aim at misconceptions of surrounding the NBA Finals MVP: “I think people sometimes have this version of him that he’s like, this difficult teammate or difficult dude, which is not the case at all. I love Jaylen to death, and I got so much respect for him and the type of person he is.”

When Turner asked Pritchard for his opinion of where Brown, this year's Eastern Conference and NBA Finals MVP, now ranks, he stated, “This shouldn’t be a question no longer." The former Oregon Duck continued, “He just won Eastern Conference MVP and Finals MVP. It could have went to him and JT, (they) were the two leaders. Like, we never talk about 1B and 1A; 1B, like, those are our two best players, and they lead us, and he’s part of the best.”

Further Reading

Steve Kerr Explains Benching Jayson Tatum in Semifinal vs. Serbia

Celtics Scheduled for Rivalry Clash on Christmas

A Win is a Win, but Benching Jayson Tatum vs. Serbia a Stubborn Mistake

Team USA Salvages Gold Medal Hopes with Final Frame Rally vs. Serbia

Celtics Trio Helps Team USA Cruise by Brazil in Knockout Play

Here's What to Know about Jaylen Brown's Boston XChange

Jayson Tatum Gets Candid about Relationship with Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown 'Wasn't Surprised' by Olympic Snub: 'All the Motivation in the World'

Celtics Rookie Anton Watson Shares Brad Stevens' Message to Him

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

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