Steve Kerr heard a good deal of criticism after he chose to bench Jayson Tatum during all of Team USA’s opening Olympic game against Serbia.
Many people thought the Boston Celtics star deserved to play, especially after the great season he just had.
Those people should breathe easier now that Kerr has confirmed Tatum will definitely play in Team USA’s second game against South Sudan.
NBA TV reported that Tatum will be part of the rotation on Wednesday, although it’s not clear if he is starting or coming off the bench.
Steve Kerr confirms Jayson Tatum 'will play' in Team USA's game vs. South Sudan at the #Olympics pic.twitter.com/ejTuxnARdt
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 30, 2024
Tatum is one of the most exciting NBA stars and is now a champion after his Boston Celtics won the title just weeks ago.
He is a solid offensive player so why didn’t he get time during the game against Serbia?
Kerr said he chose the lineup that worked best against America’s opponent.
The Serbian team was bigger and physically imposing, which meant Kerr elected to use his own set of big men: Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, and Joel Embiid.
Other players, such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Derrick White, and Anthony Edwards got time on the court, but Tatum sat on the sidelines the entire time.
It was definitely a surprising choice by Kerr and the response was immediate, with many people saying the Golden State Warriors coach made a massive mistake by skipping out on Tatum.
Certain fans say that every player should get some time to shine, even though there is a lot of great talent on the roster.
Kerr heard the response to Team USA’s first game and is making adjustments that will make everyone happy.
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