Team USA demonstrated why they are often considered the most successful team in international competition. The USA men’s basketball team delivered a remarkable 110-84 victory against Serbia in the 2024 Paris Olympics, impressing everyone. However, many noticed the absence of star player Jayson Tatum in the game.
Tatum, who won the NBA championship in the 2023-24 season, was benched by Coach Steve Kerr against Nikola Jokić and Serbia. Kerr, who is also the head coach of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA, expressed regret over his decision to bench Tatum and voiced his disappointment during a recent interview after the 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,” Kerr told reporters. “I felt like an idiot not playing him… [In] a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10.”
Basketball fans on social media had all sorts of things to say about Kerr’s comments afterwards:
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Star players LeBron James and Kevin Durant put on stunning performances in the opening game. James finished with 21 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. Durant, who had missed all five exhibition games and several practice sessions due to a lingering calf injury, surprised basketball fans with a stellar 23-point performance against Serbia.
Another Star player, Stephen Curry, didn’t contribute many points for the team, but he amazed everyone in the final seconds of the game with his incredible jaw-dropping 3-pointer.
Steve Kerr Confirms Jayson Tatum’s Participation in Next Game
Tatum consistently delivered dominating performances throughout the 2023-24 NBA season, leading the Boston Celtics to their 18th franchise championship. He was expected to play in Team USA’s opening game of the 2024 Olympics but was benched by Coach Kerr. His absence would be a significant loss for Team USA. However, Coach Kerr has high praise for Tatum, mentioning that he has been on the first All-NBA team for three years in a row and is one of the best players in the world
“Jayson has been on the first All-NBA team for three years in a row. He’s one of the best players in the world. I went with the combinations I felt would make sense, and I talked to him, and he was incredibly professional. [Tatum will] make his mark. Our guys know the key to this whole thing is to put all the NBA stuff in the rearview mirror and just win six games. Jayson is the ultimate pro and champion, and he handled it well, and he’s going to be ready for the next game.”
Steve Kerr has confirmed that Jayson Tatum will be playing in the upcoming game at the 2024 Olympics. Team USA is scheduled to play against South Sudan, which gave them tough competition and came close to winning the exhibition game against Team USA. The game will take place on August 1st in Lille, France.
Also Read: Carmelo Anthony Reveals The Reason Why People Don’t See Jayson Tatum As The Next Face Of The NBA
