Jaylen Brown And Nike Beef Took A Wild Turn After Celtics Star And Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Viral Handshake Moment

Jaylen Brown (Image Credit: Getty Images)
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown and Nike’s controversies continue after the recent game between the Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks. The game was intense and featured a heated moment between Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brown.

During the game, Antetokounmpo accidentally hit Brown in the face with his elbow while attempting a layup. Afterward, the Greek Freak extended his hand to offer a handshake to Brown. However, when Brown reached out his hand, Antetokounmpo faked him out and skipped the handshake.

During a post-game press conference, Brown was asked about the fake handshake. He described Antetokounmpo’s actions as “childish,” stating, “Giannis is a child. I’m just focused on helping my team get a win. And that’s what we did tonight.”

Nike seized the chance to respond to Brown’s comments regarding Antetokounmpo. While celebrating Antetokounmpo’s remarkable performance, they directed a critique at Brown in a recent post on X. Nike stated, “Nothing childish about ’em. 59 for the Greek Freak.” In response, Brown, who has been a longtime rival of Nike, wrote in his latest post on X, “Yall got weird energy.”

 

Antetokounmpo showcased exceptional skills on the court in a recent game against the Detroit Pistons. The Greek Freak scored 59 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and dished out seven assists, leading the team to a 127–120 overtime victory over the Pistons.

The Rift Between Jaylen Brown And Nike

The conflict between Brown and Nike began in 2022 when Brown’s former teammate, Kyrie Irving, stirred controversy by posting an antisemitic message. Following this incident, Nike terminated its partnership with Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets suspended him for several games.

Brown publicly defended Irving, claiming that he was not antisemitic during an interview, and argued that the suspension was unfair. When Nike Chairman Phil Knight commented on Irving’s actions, Brown reposted Knight’s statement and added, “Since when did Nike care about ethics?” Since then, there have been several taunts between Nike and Brown.

The controversy reignited during the selection process for the 2024 Paris Olympics roster. Kawhi Leonard was initially chosen for the Team USA roster but was later removed due to health issues. Instead of selecting Jaylen Brown, the MVP of the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals and the NBA Finals, Team USA officials chose Brown’s teammate, Derrick White.

This decision prompted Brown to post cryptic messages. In one post, he included three emojis, and later, he wrote, “@nike, is this what we are doing?” He also shared another cryptic message stating, “I’m not afraid of you or your resources.” The 2024 NBA Champion suggested that Nike played a significant role in his exclusion from the roster.

Fans are shocked by the recent exchange between Brown and Nike, eagerly anticipating further reactions.