Despite the 26-point win in their Olympics opener against Serbia, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr made some interesting choices. Kerr responded to Brian Windhorst asking about Jayson Tatum, who didn’t play in Team USA’s first game. Kerr noted that Tatum handled the disappointment well, and he does intend to use the NBA champion in later games during the tournament.
“It’s tough but Jayson [Tatum] handled it well. I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin [Durant] coming back and the lineups I wanted to get to. But that will change, Jayson is going to play.”
“Every game is going to be different, based on match-ups, he’s a total pro, first-team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him but in a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10, you really can’t. I think he’s an amazing guy, a great player, and handled it beautifully, and he’ll be back out there next game.”
“[Jayson Tatum] handled it well. I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin [Durant] coming back… I felt like an idiot not playing him… [In] a 40-minute game, you can't play more than 10."
— Steve Kerr 👀https://t.co/Xxs5eRFbt9
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) July 28, 2024
There had been some speculation that Tatum was unwell heading into the game, which the player himself refuted. It is odd that Tatum, who as Kerr mentioned has been a regular All-NBA player and is coming off an NBA championship win, didn’t get any minutes in the dominant win.
Tatum’s Celtics teammates Jrue Holiday and Derrick White got significant minutes, with Jrue playing 24 minutes as a starter, and White contributing 16 minutes coming off the bench.
However, if you look at how the forwards for Team USA played, it doesn’t surprise too many that Kerr decided to not rock the boat with too many players. LeBron James had yet another sensational game in a Team USA jersey, putting up 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and a steal.
Kevin Durant, who made his return to the squad after injury concerns, delivered 23 points and 2 rebounds off the bench. KD put up 21 points in the first half alone. Devin Booker, who played the small forward position as a starter, also did well, with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.
Will Jayson Tatum Get To Start For Team USA Eventually?
Jayson Tatum’s role on the team has been questioned since his inclusion on the roster.
While there is no doubt about his talent, many questioned how much he would play given that LeBron James and Kevin Durant were also going to be on the roster. While having a player like Tatum as a third option at the position is a luxury, there were concerns about his playing time.
Tatum is coming off a great season with the Celtics, where he averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists, and helped the franchise win their record 18th NBA championship. But that wasn’t enough to earn a starting spot for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.
Tatum won’t be too concerned about not getting enough minutes as an Olympian, having already done so in 2020 with Team USA in Tokyo, where he played a key role in their gold medal win. Tatum is looking to help Team USA win gold once again this year and will be happy in whatever role he plays.
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