Though he did not get the nod for the 2024 roster, Jaylen Brown could still don the red, white, and blue in the future. Grant Hill, who is the managing director for Team USA Basketball, said that the Boston Celtics star will be in the mix for the 2028 Olympic roster.
He spoke about Brown and Team USA during a recent sit-down with Rachel Nichols on All The Smoke’s YouTube channel. (H/t Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report)
"I'm confident he and I will sit down at some point and talk about it and get to some level of understanding," Hill said. "Look, he'll be a candidate if he wants in '28.”
Grant Hill may want Jaylen Brown for Team USA Basketball, but the Celtics star might not feel the same
Hill even said that he has learned not to take anything personally.
"Oh yeah," Hill said of Brown being in the mix four years from now. "One thing I've learned. You can't take anything personal in this role. And so, I haven't personalized anything. My goal, my objective is to win. As soon as hopefully that happens, we pivot and start looking ahead to the future."
Grant Hill responds to the criticisms and controversies surrounding USA Basketball’s roster construction.
— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) August 7, 2024
Watch his full sit-down with @Rachel__Nichols on our YouTube: https://t.co/qon0bbeM94 pic.twitter.com/hmSJi1e4Hd
However, while Hill may end up considering Brown for a spot on the roster, the Finals MVP may not have the same line of thinking. In fact, his recent actions speak volumes in regard to his desire to play for Team USA.
Brown recently unfollowed USA Basketball on Twitter, and while it may seem like a silly little interaction to keep track of, it’s still relevant.
If Brown decides that the relationship between him and Team USA is now non-existent, then Hill may be forced to look in a different direction come 2028.
Right now, that doesn’t seem like a huge deal, but once the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Jrue Holiday, and Stephen Curry retire, Brown will quickly rise up the ranks of the best American-born players in the NBA.
By the time 2028 rolls around, on paper, Brown should be one of the first calls for Team USA. And Hill is open to the idea. But based on recent actions and statements, the same may not be true for Brown.
Only time will tell, but the bridge between Brown and Team USA Basketball might be burnt.