Jaylen Brown's 2024 USA Olympic Snub Adds 'More Fuel to His Fire,' Celtics GM Says

Jaylen Brown's absence on the 2024 United States men's basketball Olympic roster could provide motivation for the Boston Celtics star as he enters the 2024-25 season.

Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens told Adam Himmelsbach of the Boston Globe that the Olympics snub adds "more fuel to his fire" as Brown prepares to help the team defend a championship.

Stevens said:

"I think Jaylen could be on any Olympic team any given year. He could be a featured part of those teams. I saw [USA Basketball director Grant Hill] said he'd love to sit down and talk to him about being part of that pool in '28, whatever that may be.

"But I think Jaylen is one of the best players in the world. And one of the best things about Jaylen is whether he gets the call and makes the team or doesn't get the call, he's going to use it as motivation to get better. So I know he's working and he's excited about improving.

"I think he'll truly embrace the challenges that come with winning last year. That's who he's always been. And this will probably add more fuel to his fire. But he doesn't need much fuel added. He finds it."

The 27-year-old didn't receive a spot on a U.S. roster that included Boston teammates such as Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White.

Brown was part of the initial 41-player pool for the United States, although he wasn't one of the original 12 members selected. There appeared to be an opening for him after Kawhi Leonard's departure, although White was selected instead. Brown seemed to respond to the choice after it was announced in a post on X.

He may have a better chance to make the roster during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, as Team USA men's basketball managing director Grant Hill revealed that Brown would be considered for inclusion during a Wednesday appearance on All The Smoke's Open Run with Rachel Nichols.

Still, Brown could use the Paris snub as bulletin board material as he prepares for the upcoming season. He was named NBA Finals MVP as Boston defeated the Dallas Mavericks in five games after he previously earned an Eastern Conference Finals MVP award following a series sweep against the Indiana Pacers.

Brown secured his third All-Star selection last season, averaging 23.0 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting a career-high 49.9 percent from the field and hitting 35.4 percent of his attempts from behind the arc.

Although his Celtics teammates were selected for Team USA over him, Stevens is confident that Brown will rally alongside them as Boston looks to secure back-to-back championships.