Team USA coach Steve Kerr on why star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is getting benched in the Olympics

The US National Team needed a miracle comeback to avoid losing to the Serbian National Team in the 2024 Paris Olympics, and despite the fact that it was a win, many were left scratching their heads. Why, when it was clearly not a good night for several members of Team USA, did head coach Steve Kerr not play star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum ?

For his part, Kerr had an answer. Maybe not a very good one, but an answer nonetheless. “It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson; it’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” said Kerr via the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach .

“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.”

Did he like what he saw from Devin Booker’s 6 points and 1 assist in 24 minutes of floor time? Anthony Edwards’ 2 points and 2 rebounds in 13 minutes? Or that Kevin Durant was the only player worth mentioning on the second unit in terms of production?

Or was this an easy excuse for some questionable decisions, beyond just the lack of floor time for Tatum? “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,” Kerr suggested postgame.

“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,” he said.

And we’re not buying it. It may not be a vendetta, but it’s clear this is not a good way to build — or run — a basketball team in international play.

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