CHICAGO - With four NBA coaching titles to his name, thanks to a dynasty he oversaw with the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr is unassailable.
But as shown in Team USA versus Serbia game in the ongoing Paris Olympics, the former Chicago Bull isn't beyond reproach either.
In a puzzling, widely-criticized decision, Kerr benched a healthy Jayson Tatum during a landslide victory where the Americans, led by Kevin Durant's 23 points on 5-of-5 shooting from 3, dumped Nikola Jokic and the Serbians, 110-84.
READ Kerr explains Jayson Tatum benching in US win over Serbia
Kerr cited "match-ups" and "rotations" as the reasons for icing the five-time All-Star for the Boston Celtics.
I get that, but we're talking here about a first-team All-NBA starter who just won his first NBA championship by raging through the playoffs with averages of 25 points, 9.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists in 19 games.
Tatum is just approaching his prime at age 26. He is 6-foot-8 and 210 pounds,
What match-ups against Serbia can't he overcome? What rotation or player combinations within Team USA can he not fit in?
HERE'S THE BEEF.
With 7:51 left in the fourth quarter, Team USA built an 86-65 lead. It was, for all intents and purposes, game over.
Kerr still refused to put in Tatum.
Really?
Why?
Will Serbia suddenly rise from the grave if Tatum is thrown in there with four other generational talents?
At the end of the day, Kerr had the discretion. He just misused it.
UNWANTED DISTRACTION.
So instead of focusing on the next game, Kerr wasted some precious time defending his move and assuring the media that "Tatum will play" versus South Sudan on Wednesday.
Doesn't matter now. Although he hasn't complained publicly, the DNP-CD (Did Not Play-Coach's Decision) must have crushed Tatum's ego beyond placating.
Look, the guy just got a ring, signed a 5-year, $314 million contract extension, and is the cover athlete of NBA 2K25.
Paris was supposed to be the cherry on the sundae. What he got instead was a Sunday to forget and a potential meme that screams "I know what you did last summer."
Still, this stupid benching doesn't dent Kerr's reputation as an excellent play caller; it just proves that even the best can overthink things and pull moves that are beneath them.
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