Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has attributed his exclusion from the 2024 Team USA men’s basketball team to Nike’s influence. Brown expressed his disappointment during an interview with Stephen A. Smith, hinting that Nike’s sponsorship played a key role in his omission.
Brown stated, via HoopsHype, “If I have to sign to Nike to increase my likelihood of playing with USA basketball, I’ll pass.” He emphasized his belief that sports shoe companies hold too much power in the basketball industry, particularly at the grassroots level. According to Brown, this influence hinders the true development of young athletes, forcing them to choose between shoe brands instead of focusing on their growth as players.
“I think the essence—you see it in our grassroots—kids, instead of enjoying the essence of basketball, are forced to pick a side. I look at our global game, and Europe is closing the gap. I believe that we should focus more on our development of our youth and grassroots, and I think sports shoe companies should have less control over the industry,” he said.
“Right now, I was one of those kids, you know, I was a top player, number one actually. You came to one of my high school games, I remember that. I was a top player in high school, and there was so much to deal with—Nike, Adidas, going to an Adidas school, going to a Nike school—and kids should just be focusing on development,” Brown added.
Brown’s exclusion from the 2024 Olympic team came as a surprise, with Derrick White taking his place after Kawhi Leonard withdrew. While Brown has achieved remarkable success in the NBA, including being named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, he has been critical of Nike for years. Brown has often chosen to wear Anta shoes or remove the swoosh logo from his footwear in protest.
His frustration with Nike extends beyond his personal experience, as he has supported his former teammate Kyrie Irving, who was also overlooked for the 2024 USA team. In 2022, Irving faced a similar situation, and Brown stood by his side, raising concerns about Nike’s influence on team selections.
Nike was the official sponsor for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and many of the athletes on the roster, such as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, have endorsements with Nike or its Jordan brand. Brown’s refusal to align with Nike appears to have played a role in his absence from the team, adding fuel to the ongoing debate over the brand’s involvement in national team decisions.
Brown, who signed a five-year, $304 million contract extension in July 2023, is no stranger to speaking his mind. The richest deal in NBA history has not stopped him from calling out the powers that shape the basketball world. He believes that the focus should be on developing the sport globally and narrowing the talent gap between the United States and Europe, rather than on corporate interests.
While Brown did not seem shocked by his exclusion from the Olympic team, he hinted at potential revelations about the situation. “I do for sure,” Brown confirmed when asked if he believed Nike influenced the decision. He further added, “There will be more stuff to come with that. As of now, I’m not gonna comment on it.”