ASIDE from Kevin Durant’s near-perfect shooting and LeBron James’ all-around game, another storyline in Team USA’s win over Serbia in the 2024 Paris Olympics was the benching of Jayson Tatum.
The Boston Celtics star and a three-time NBA First Team selectoin was a DNP in Team USA’s 110-84 win over Serbia to open its gold-medal bid in the Olympics.
USA coach Steve Kerr told Brian Windhorst of ESPN that entering the game, he told Tatum about the possibility of him not playing due to the return of Durant, who didn’t play during the friendly matches because of an injury.
READ No stopping Durant in Team USA rout of Jokic-led Serbia
“It’s tough. But Jayson handled it really well,” Kerr said in an interview with Windhorst.
“I talked to him today before the game that it may play out this way with Kevin coming back, and the line-up that I want to get to,” Kerr said.
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Kerr, however, said Tatum will get his minutes in the coming games, the amount of which will depend on the match-ups.
“But that will change. Jayson is going to play. Every game is going to be different based on match-ups,” said Kerr.
Kerr admitted it’s a difficult juggling act distributing the minutes ti NBA stars in the USA squad with the shorter game in the Olympics.
Tyrese Haliburton, who played for Team USA in last year’s FIBA Basketball World Cup in Manila, also didn’t see action.
“He is a total pro. He is First Team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him,” Kerr told Windhorst of Tatum.
“But 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10 (players). You really can’t. I think he is an amazing guy, great player, and handled it beautifully. He will be back out next game,” said Kerr.
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