There was a lot of drama for Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown and Team USA, and they weren’t the only ones who dealt with a strange summer.
Brown’s roster snub was surprising to all fans, and the explanations from managing director Grant Hill and head coach Steve Kerr didn’t add up. Tatum played all but two of the 2024 Paris Games, and his DNP designation in the two Serbia games also didn’t have great explanations for them.
Kerr became enemy No. 1 for Green Teamers to the point where a contingent of fans rooted against Team USA in the gold medal game against France.
Someone else who had some sour feelings over Kerr was Aaron Gordon.
Story continues below advertisement
“I was asked if I wanted to play for USA, and then, the call never came around,” Gordon told reporters at Denver Nuggets media day Thursday. “There was a little bit of salt there in the first place. And then just to see (Nikola Jokic) take them to the wire like that, it’s like, ‘This is dope.’ This dude on my team almost washed these cats. But all that being said, ‘Merica.”
Gordon would have been a strong fit for Team USA with his defensive ability, which Derrick White brought as the replacement for Kawhi Leonard over Brown. The Celtics star admitted he’d tell more of his story that may or may not include his beef with Nike, and Tatum seems to be using his Olympic benching as motivation. Gordon didn’t seem to take it that personally.
“After we beat the (Golden State) Warriors in the bay Steve Kerr asked if I wanted to play on the USA team,” Gordon posted on X on Thursday. “Idk bro. It’s a bit rhetorical but hey we got gold.”
Kyrie Irving nor Paul George made the cut for the Olympic roster cut, which highlighted how few spots and how competitive the selection process was. But it will make matchups against the Warriors even more interesting with multiple stars seemingly out for revenge over the events of last summer.
Story continues below advertisement
