Jayson Tatum, regarded as one of the top five basketball players globally, didn’t see any action when Team USA began its Paris Olympics journey on Sunday.
Surprisingly, Tatum did not play a single minute in the team’s group-stage opener against Serbia. The Boston Celtics star was one of two players benched by the gold medal favorites, who achieved a decisive 110-84 victory over Nikola Jokic and his team.
Many basketball enthusiasts took to social media to mock Tatum for not playing on the international stage. However, others, including 14-year NBA veteran Matt Barnes, criticized Team USA’s decision-makers for sidelining the five-time All-Star. Barnes expressed his discontent on social media, questioning the decision-makers, including coach Steve Kerr.
After the game, Kerr clarified that Tatum’s absence was due to a strategic decision rather than an injury or illness. It was a pre-planned move, and Kerr informed Tatum before the game that he might not play against Serbia. Despite this, Kerr assured that Tatum would still make a significant impact in the Olympics. Tatum’s next chance to play will be on Wednesday when Team USA faces South Sudan.
