The latest development in the ongoing tension between Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown and Nike emerged following Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo's impressive 59-point performance against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday. In a social media post, Nike commended Antetokounmpo, referring to him as the 'Greek Freak' and stating, 'Nothing childish about 'em. 59 for the Greek freak.' While this message appeared innocuous at first glance, it served as a subtle reference to comments made by Brown after the Celtics' recent victory over the Bucks.
During that game, a notable moment occurred when Antetokounmpo extended his hand for a high five with Brown, only to retract it after committing an offensive foul. Following the contest, Brown expressed his thoughts on the exchange, stating, 'Giannis is a child. I'm just focused on helping my team get a win, and that's what we did.' On Thursday, Brown further addressed Nike, suggesting that the company had 'weird energy' regarding their engagement with him.
This incident is not the first time Brown has spoken out against Nike. Earlier this year, he hinted that Nike's influence contributed to him being overlooked for a spot on Team USA for the 2024 Paris Olympics. As Brown is currently without a sneaker endorsement after his deal with Adidas ended, he has made it clear that he will not partner with Nike simply to bolster his chances of being selected for the national team. 'In 2028, if I have to sign with Nike to increase my likelihood to play USA Basketball, I'll pass,' he stated. Instead, Brown launched his own shoe brand, 741, and chose to decline endorsement offers exceeding $50 million. As the Celtics and Bucks are set to meet again for their final regular-season encounter on December 6, this narrative adds another layer of intrigue to their matchups, especially given the Celtics' current standing with a 10-3 record compared to the Bucks' 4-8 start.
