Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics star, had a subdued response to the media after not playing in Team USA’s opening victory against Serbia.
However, head coach Steve Kerr had promised that Tatum would play a significant role, which came to fruition in their next game against South Sudan.
On Wednesday, Team USA secured a convincing 103-86 win over South Sudan, with Tatum starting the game. After the match, Tatum described the experience of being benched as “humbling.” He acknowledged that, despite his success in the NBA, including a championship win, a new contract, and being on the cover of “NBA 2K25,” the situation was a reminder of the importance of team dynamics over individual accolades.
Tatum played 17 minutes, contributing four points, five rebounds, two assists, and a block. He expressed relief at being back on the court, noting the intense speculation following his benching.
Coach Kerr, meanwhile, stuck to his rotation strategy, resting Joel Embiid, who had started in the previous game. The win was a collective effort, with six American players scoring in double figures, and Bam Adebayo leading the charge with 18 points in Embiid’s absence.
