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Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown is arguably the biggest snub from the United States Olympic men’s basketball team, but there is reportedly still a chance he will get added to the roster.
According to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, Brown “could resurface” as a replacement for Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant if his current injury woes render him unable to make it back in time for the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris later this month.
On Saturday, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr told reporters that while Durant isn’t likely to play against Australia in an exhibition game on Monday due to a calf strain, he isn’t yet concerned about his availability for the Olympics.
However, KD has yet to participate in a Team USA practice after straining his calf while working out two weeks ago.
USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill has already made one change to the original roster, replacing Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard with Celtics guard Derrick Whitte.
Leonard suffered a knee injury that cost him four out of the Clippers’ six playoff games this past season, and after watching him participate in practices and scrimmages, the decision was made to replace him for the “best interest” of Team USA, the Clippers and Leonard.
There was some thought that Brown would be a strong candidate to take Kawhi’s roster spot, but it was given to his Celtics teammate in White instead.
Per Vardon, the Team USA brass felt that if it needed “a defensive-minded guard at the point of attack” in the event of injury or foul trouble, White would be a better fit than Brown.
White is one of three Celtics players on the Team USA roster along with Jayson Tatum and Jrue Holiday, but an argument can be made that Brown was the biggest key to Boston winning the 2023-24 NBA championship.
Brown, 27, was named an All-Star for the third time in four years last season, averaging 23.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals per game.
He then raised his level of play during the postseason, averaging 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.9 three-pointers made and 1.2 steals per contest en route to being named Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP.
With or without Brown, the Americans will be heavily favored to win their fifth consecutive Olympic gold medal thanks to a star-studded roster headlined by LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Joel Embiid.
Potentially losing a player of Durant’s caliber would be a major blow to most teams, but Team USA has a spectacular contingency plan in case that happens with Brown potentially waiting in the wings.
Kerr said Saturday that Team USA has not even considered a replacement since Durant yet since there is no imminent concern that he will miss the Olympics, but if it does happen, it may be safe to assume that Brown is atop the list of potential replacements.
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