Jayson Tatum, the Boston Celtics star, has had a challenging time finding his rhythm with Team USA during the Olympics.
After a promising performance in the final group-play game against Puerto Rico, where he recorded a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and two steals, it seemed like Tatum was beginning to hit his stride.
However, his momentum faltered in the quarterfinal match against Brazil. In that game, Tatum contributed just five points on 1-for-5 shooting, along with three rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench, making him largely a non-factor.
The struggles of the usually reliable Tatum have become a topic of discussion, particularly on the NESN podcast “Hold My Banner.” Hosts Travis Thomas and Ountae Campbell highlighted Tatum’s inconsistency, attributing it potentially to fatigue.
Campbell suggested that Tatum’s extensive play over the past few NBA seasons, including deep playoff runs, may have taken a toll on his performance. Despite these challenges, Team USA remains just two wins away from securing another gold medal, which could alleviate some of the pressure on Tatum’s individual contributions.