Maybe Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown wasn’t imaging his beef with Nike after all.
On Thursday, Nike Basketball’ s X account sent out a tweet that caught a lot of people’s attention. “Nothing childish about ‘em. 59 for the Greek freak,” the post read. Referencing Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo’s godlike 59-point explosion on Wednesday night, there was clear purpose behind the tweet.
Yall got weird energy https://t.co/f8DTuq2YCQ
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) November 14, 2024
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Antetokounmpo, a two-time NBA MVP, has been signed with Nike since 2013. A celebratory post after a client has that type of performance is par for the course. However, where it gets deeper is their assertion that Antetokounmpo isn’t “childish.” There’s only one real explanation for why they made that specific comment, to be sure.
In the Celtics’ and Bucks’ last matchup, Brown and Antetokounmpo got into a sort of kerfuffle. Antetokounmpo seemed to elbow Brown in the face, which wasn’t called. Then, on the way down the court, Antetokounmpo faked out Brown as if he was ready to extend the olive branch.
Giannis Antetokounmpo elbowed Jaylen Brown in the head, then faked the handshake on the other end!
pic.twitter.com/13Ly2o9n2a
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) November 10, 2024
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After the game, Brown would tell reports that Antetokounmpo was a “child.”
“GIANNIS IS A CHILD.”
Jaylen Brown on Giannis Antetokounmpo faking a handshake to him after elbowing Brown in the head
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— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX) November 11, 2024
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Antetokounmpo was surprised, though acknowledging that he tries to stay young.
#Bucks F Giannis Antetokounmpo on being called a child postgame by Boston G Jaylen Brown
“Oh, that’s what he said? Dang.” pic.twitter.com/aGgE4VLqaR
— 97.3 The Game (@TheGameMKE) November 11, 2024
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With that being said, the real story isn’t about the two Eastern Conference champions.
Was Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Right About Nike All Along?
It’s about Brown’s insistence he was left off the Paris Olympics roster because of a tenuous relationship with Nike. At the time, it seemed possible but implausible. Nike’s recent comments, though in jest, bring into question whether Brown is right to point the blame at the company.
There’s Still Reasonable Doubt
One tweet doesn’t mean that Nike had that much influence on USA Basketball manager Grant Hill’s decisions, if any at all. A couple of other strong players were seemingly cuts, including Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George. This is notable because George is a Nike athlete and universally considered to be one of the best two-way wings in the NBA. A few young players have even admitted to idolizing George, like former NBA star Carmelo Anthony’s son, Kiyan Anthony.
As Brown says though, there’s “weird energy.” Nike doesn’t just go around taunting every player. Whether the tweet was a reaction to Brown’s comments might not ever be known. Even still, Brown has a right to feel or think whatever he does about the company. At this point, all that can be sure is there’s no way they’ll be partnering up anytime soon.
Not that Brown will mind, after launching an independent shoe line this summer: 741.
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