USA Basketball Chose Derrick White over Jaylen Brown?!

Mike Felger, Tony Mazz and Mark Dondero react to Derrick White replacing Kawhi Leonard for Team USA Basketball. Should Jaylen Brown have been considered over White?
Thumbnail Images Courtesy of USA Today Sports (Peter Casey & Brian Fluharty)

[@greatpyrenees559]

Anyone who knows anything about the politics knows it’s Nike

[@JeremyCaron]

Guaranteed they were worried about Brown using the opportunity on the international stage to make some kind of political statement and decided it wasn't worth the risk

[@dismansaid]

U said it best.

[@scottinnh88]

What is browns political views? Is he a conservative or something the nba can’t stand?

[@JeremyCaron]

@@scottinnh88 "America is a racist nation" style thinking and comments in the past. Which, yes, but not what people want to hear during a patriotic competition like the Olympics.

[@BaMFusco]

I’m glad. Just gives brown more fuel to the fire to come back even stronger this year. He’s going to be the next brady if you keep doubting that man! Lol

[@1andOnlyKB]

This Celtics team goes deep every year in the playoffs, I dont mind Brown not being there, I wish none of our players were there and instead just resting for next season

[@youtubeconnollyfamily]

Or maybe brown had some personal stuff and chose not to do it. Don’t read too much into it. It’s probably not that big of a deal.

[@Chauncey-Holt]

@@1andOnlyKBI agree

[@kory6897]

@@youtubeconnollyfamily we know that ain't it

[@CzarsSalad]

Everybody in the NBA desperately wants to destroy the Celtics internally

[@eking5715]

Don't you think Derrick should have declined?

[@Benji-rn3fl]

Yes!!! Typical divide & conquer syndrome!

[@JRPG_Master]

Nike hates Jalen Brown. Look it up.

[@b-gamer340]

Derrick White shouldn't be over Jaylen Brown. Thats crazy

[@junebuggybugg420]

It's the way he fits the team

[@jamaldee2355]

Love both players obviously but even I was surprised loll

[@richschneiderman613]

It's really wild to me how so many people that talk about sports literally know nothing about sports Derek white is a coach's dream he plays the game the right way and he's unselfish he's perfect for this team because they already loaded with superstars we don't need another star

[@eking5715]

Derrick is a guard. They have 5 guards already.

[@trellwhitehurst6670]

​@eking5715 it was reported a month prior that White would be somebody's injury replacement (mainly Kawhi). Besides...we don't know how much they'll be able to get out of Haliburton.

[@tinhinnh]

the selection guy must be a spurs fan 😂

[@greatpyrenees559]

No… it’s because Nike sponsors the team and he publicly spoke against them. Thats why the people crying about him and Kyrie are wasting their time

[@HayastAnFedayi]

Maybe it’s the stink of the Kyrie stuff still following JB around, that stuff no matter how minuscule one may think it is matters.

[@TNSwithScubaSteve]

JB needs the rest

[@ThomasBeauchemin-z4b]

Didn't these idiots pick the Mavs?

[@Shawshankrip]

Nike is the problem that’s why he is not on the team

[@cameronburson1397]

Replacing Kawhii with Brown would make sense if it was 1 for 1. But White adds more outside scoring and playmaking, the latter of which this team needed even with Leonard. It was a savvy move, whatever the political motivations might’ve been.

[@seanpatrickobie]

Gossip Queens these guys 🤣

[@ChiefQuis4]

These guys lost me saying that Brown woulda been picked if he wasn’t on this Celtics team due to being Taums shadow. There’s already two Celtics on the team and they had to actively pass over him to pick a third Celtic. Team USA/ Nike/ Grant Hill or whoever makes these decisions knows optics, they are sending a message.

[@bijansharifi1071]

This shouldn’t be a surprise… there was a report a few weeks ago that if Kawhi goes down it will be Derrick…

[@junebuggybugg420]

They need more perimeter defenders. White is defensive guard who can shoot. They can pair with Jrue and Derek against guards. They know each other well. They have plenty of forward depth. LeBron. Durant. Tatum. Honestly Booker can play 3 at his size in certain line ups. On a side note .... The Celtics now have 3 players on Olympic team. NOT including the guy who just won finals MVP. ... They just locked everyone in long-term .... They really could 3 peat or at least win 2 more within next 5.

[@misteryoww5026]

I think Jaylen Brown is the best Basketball player in the world right now, and they didn't give him the NBA2K cover too

[@youtubeconnollyfamily]

There is obviously a certain reason for it, that the public just does not know about. So I would not read too much into it. Maybe brown did not want to do it.

[@martinalbert29]

Jaylen Brown is FULLY BOOKED this summer. He has schedules around the world. So in his case it’s a schedule thing. I am sure he was considered.

[@christmascactus40]

It's the free throw

[@misteryoww5026]

They will call bronny before calling Jaylen or Kyrie at tjis point

[@stanleywalus9771]

Derrick is a better team player. The word is team. Need someone to blend in. Have enough stars. Less me than we.

[@ashantilematthew6277]

The second fiddle thing doesn't make sense because Jrue and Derrick made the team.

[@ashantilematthew6277]

I think it's because they don't need another scorer. Another guard was a better fit.

[@jayy88]

They picked White because he’ll be cool riding the bench. How is this not obvious they have enough scorers

[@____GoMeZ____]

JB is a better player, but D. White is just so damn good. Dont downplay what he means for a team

[@gregorywilson2124]

I don’t respect Hill. How does Jru make it over Brown? At some level fairness has to come into play. I hope team USA loses.

[@reganderson9721]

Lol they literally wanted to trade JB for Kawhi a few years ago

[@reganderson9721]

They may just need more ball handlers...pause

[@taiwanfocus4385]

Well, Isiah Thomas was left off the Dream Team!

[@shinewitme2]

Y’all got answers 😂😂😂. Nike basketball!!!!

[@kdot1121]

haha he made so many comments about nike and he expects him to be called out to the team usa and gets salty. What a clown 😂

[@JamesToliver-ge4jb]

Guys stop, U no what up. Classic Case of Blackballing.

[@sgoody334]

Jrue and Derek will play together

[@colmmulligan5029]

Just put Mazz in there. Hes better than the both of em.

[@flipcool2117]

THIS THE NEW ERA ISAIAH THOMAS SNUB😂😅!

[@arnettashepherd]

He's a political quite force and management doesn't really like him. 😮😢

[@bweewiggy5829]

Jaylen Brown has no interest in representing the USA in the Olympics.

[@KnightGeneral]

I CANT BELIEVE People are so dumb, didnt even understand why Kawhi was picked on the First Place. ITS THE COACH! Coach Pop is looking for players who know his style and for players, thats Kawhi and Derrick White because they were both coached by him when they were still on SPURS team. Why are people sooo dumb?! Yknow what Ive seen both play, Im a Celtic fan and if Im a Coach Id pick DWhite over Jaylen Brown as well. You guys underestimate DWhite too much.

[@truth9430]

Pop isn't the coach. It's Steve Kerr

[@sgoody334]

Felg stop being so dramatic!!! I realize you need to talk about something but I think Brown gets plenty of attention and credit with the Celtics

[@Shakester71]

People keep looking at this from a talent standpoint, but not from a team's view. They already had Booker and Edwards. They needed more ball handlers. Combo guards like a Haliburton, Curry and White. Sorry, but Brown isn't a good ball handler or facilitator.

[@iguesss]

Jaylen Brown has to go

[@mydreaminorbit9297]

JB is human, he has to be feeling some type of way after this. JB off the court does rub a lot of people the wrong way.

[@chumaifezue4896]

In what way 🤔🧐

[@user-vg2eg7oo5n]

Who cares? Slow news cycle.

[@Musika809]

Blah blah blah. I think Derek White was the perfect choice for team USA!

[@____GoMeZ____]

Theyd both be perfect, its just semantics

[@cameronclark3927]

Jaylen is great player but he’s just not as marketable as Jayson Tatum that’s why Tatum gets all the press and endorsements

[@bee1444]

Why not take Jimmy Butler?

[@Jackson54321]

because he’s a drama queen 😂

[@b-gamer340]

Because he's drama queen. And he misses so many regular season games. Nobody talks about it either.

[@Daniel_Capital]

He’s a terrible teammate. 1 year ago he and spoelstra almost got into a fist fight on the court. Philly didn’t like his personality, Minnesota, Chicago… other than that he’s great 😅