"You got to have guys who support the team and not sit over there pouting" – CP3 names three unheralded but vital players on the 'Redeem Team'

The chatter surrounding Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum's benching in Team USA 's game against Serbia shows that fans and experts aren't used to seeing big-time players not on the floor for crucial games. For his career, Tatum averaged 34 minutes per game, which made seeing him sit on the bench for an entire contest jarring and unusual.

However, according to two-time Olympic gold medal winner Chris Paul , having players who can provide support and positive energy from the bench is just as crucial for the team's success. In an interview on the "Knuckleheads Podcast," CP3 emphasized that while most people pay attention to the big-name players, the role players make a massive impact on the team's chemistry and morale.

Stars in their roles

When discussing the " Redeem Team " in 2008, the "Point God" cited the three players who played the fewest minutes on that squad: defensive whiz Tayshaun Prince and All-Stars Carlos Boozer and Michael Redd. Booz, a two-time All-Star who finished a 13-year career with averages of 16.2 points and 9.5 rebounds, played only 5.9 minutes per game for Team USA.

Meanwhile, Prince—a four-time All-Defensive team member—played only ten minutes per contest, while Redd, an All-Star who was deadly from the outside, played just nine minutes per game. However, Chris said the trio was as influential to the team's conquest as the more well-known stars like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwyane Wade.

"This is what I'm saying. When people think about these great USA teams or whatnot, they just automatically start thinking about the stars. And those guys were stars too, but those three were so important to our team, man," the former Wake Forest ace shared .

While fans and experts didn't see the three players play a lot in the games, their contributions behind the scenes were critical in helping Team USA's stars perform at their best.

Related: Mike Krzyzewski discusses Jordan, Bird, and Magic playing together on the Dream Team: "I'll take those three guys to start any team"

Not everyone will play

Giving everyone minutes on a roster as stacked as Team USA would be difficult. That dilemma is compounded further by the fact that FIBA games run 40 minutes compared to the NBA's 48-minute games. The same issues that plague today's U.S. squad plagued the "Redeem Team" back then. However, Paul said they were fortunate enough to have consummate professionals who always chose team success over personal glory.

"Everybody can't play, so you got to have guys who are supporting the team, showing up every day, and not sitting over there pouting and mad that they aren't getting to play that much," the 12-time All-Star guard stressed. "That 2008 team was special. Carlos Boozer, Michael Redd, and Tayshaun Prince were really the key to that."

It's been 16 years since Team USA succeeded in bringing the gold back to the United States after finishing with the bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics. However, the memories from that redemption run still linger for many players, including Chris Paul.

Related: Stephen A. Smith rips Steve Kerr for treating Jayson Tatum as 'waterboy' in USA's win over Serbia: "That's some straight bulls**t"