Much of the chatter surrounding Team USA over the last few weeks has centered on the benching of Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum . An All-Star, a First Team All-NBA member, and the undisputed leader of the NBA champions Celtics, Tatum getting glued to the bench for the entire game against Serbia was a shocking move that was talked about by fans and experts.
Jayson has since opened up about his experience, sharing that although he understood head coach Steve Kerr's decision not to field him in to give Team USA's big men more playing time to combat Serbia's Nikola Jokic, it was still a humbling experience for him.
Not about him but the gold
Despite the buzz surrounding his benching, the five-time All-Star remained unfazed. JT acknowledged his inner competitor's desire to contribute to a victory but also recognized the need for the coaching staff to make decisions in the team's best interest.
"It's a unique situation, and it's not about one individual player. The competitor in you wants to play, obviously, but I'm not here to make a story about myself," Tatum said after the United States beat South Sudan, 103-86, to improve to 2-0 in Group C.
The former Duke Blue Devil has had a lot of things go his way this year. In June, the Celtics won it all, and he signed an enormous five-year contract extension worth $315 million. The versatile wingman also joined the ranks of NBA superstars and icons who have graced the cover of 2K's popular video game franchise.
But Jayson knows that representing his country in the Olympics is a whole different level of accomplishment. Tatum is now following in the footsteps of former legends like Michael Jordan and his idol, Kobe Bryant, who have all suited up for Team USA in previous Olympic Games.
"You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated... so after all of this, it's definitely a humbling experience," JT shared.
Tatum was part of Team USA's starting lineup against South Sudan, played 17 minutes, and scored four points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block.
Related: Mike Krzyzewski talks about coaching LeBron James: "He and Kobe were the two guys who were just above everyone in preparation"
All have to play roles
On Wednesday, Joel Embiid sat on the bench for the entire game, relegated to being a 7-foot cheerleader against South Sudan. While the media will undoubtedly make this a massive talking point until the Americans battle Puerto Rico this weekend, USA Basketball's all-time leading scorer, Kevin Durant, said this is part and parcel of the whole process. Not everyone will get to play on a team brimming with incredible talent.
"Last game, we had a champion and an all-NBA guy not play any minutes, and tonight we had an MVP not play any minutes," Kevin Durant disclosed. "They didn't complain. We had guys who stepped up and filled those roles perfectly."
It was a sentiment echoed by "Captain LeMerica" himself, LeBron James, who had another terrific game for Team USA on Wednesday, scoring 12 points, seven rebounds, and five assists.
"We've got 12 guys that can go out and get the job done any given night," 'The King' stated.
As much as the media and fans make a big deal about Steve Kerr's lineup decisions, everyone on Team USA appears to be on the same page, blocking out all the noise and focusing on the ultimate goal of bringing home the gold medal.
Related: "There's gonna be other games where other star players aren't gonna fit" - Windhorst explains that Tatum's benching was part of Team USA's gameplan
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