Team USA coach Steve Kerr defends Jayson Tatum decision and says ‘it’s math problem’ ahead of final at Paris Olympics

TEAM USA head coach Steve Kerr stood by his decision not to play NBA star Jayson Tatum in the rollercoaster 95-91 win over Serbia in the semifinals.

LeBron James and Team USA will take on France in Saturday's men's basketball gold medal game at the Paris Olympics.

Kerr counted on the team's starters and Kevin Durant, who scored all nine points in the fourth quarter, to pull off the comeback against Nikola Jokic's Serbia.

Team USA mounted a 17-point deficit as Steph Curry scored 35, LeBron put together a triple-double, and Joel Embiid added 19 points, including seven in the fourth quarter.

But Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton didn't appear in the game.

Plenty of NBA fans took issue with Tatum's lack of playing time, and Kerr answered as to why he didn't see the court.

"It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson; it’s what I’ve seen from the other guys," Kerr said.

"Like I’ve said many times during this tournament and the last six weeks, it’s just hard to play 11 people, even in an NBA game."

Tatum was also held out of the rotation in group play.

Kerr then said that Team USA's bench unit has played extremely well, other than Thursday, and has blamed math for Tatum's multiple DNPs.

"Our second unit was not great last night, but that group has been one of the bright spots on this team, especially on the defensive end," the Golden State Warriors head coach said.

"So it’s not about what Jayson is doing or not doing.

"It’s just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin [Durant] has filled in since he came back from his injury.

"It’s just a math problem more than anything."

Even Tatum's mother, Brandy Cole, shared her displeasure over her son not appearing in the knockout game on social media.

ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale shared an X post on Thursday night, asking if Tatum wasn't getting any minutes because of an injury.

Tatum's mom responded, writing, "No he not. But if you find out what’s going on please let me know—unacceptable and makes NO SENSE."

The 26-year-old Tatum was a vital part of Team USA's gold medal finish at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, but he hasn't gotten the same opportunity in this year's games.

His best game came versus Puerto Rico when he posted 10 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes.

The three-time All-NBA First Team Tatum's decreased role in the Olympics comes after winning the NBA championship with the Celtics in June.

Regardless, Team USA will have a chance to win its fifth straight gold medal.