Photo Credit: USA Basketball
Throughout the Paris Olympics, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has continuously faced criticism for his decision to bench Jayson Tatum, one of the NBA’s most versatile and talented players. Kerr’s explanation for this controversial move? A “math problem.”
For the second time in the tournament, Tatum found himself on the bench during a crucial matchup against Serbia. Despite Team USA’s narrow 95-91 victory, many fans and analysts were left questioning why Tatum, a three-time All-NBA first team member, was not utilized. Kerr addressed these concerns, stating that the decision was not a reflection of Tatum’s abilities but rather a matter of managing player combinations and rotations.
“It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson; it’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” Kerr explained during Team USA media availability. “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. 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. 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, the way Kevin [Durant] has filled in since he came back from his injury. It’s just a math problem more than anything”.
The decision to bench Tatum has not been without its detractors. Critics argue that Tatum’s defensive prowess and versatility could have been crucial in countering Serbia’s strong offensive performance. The absence of Tatum’s switchability and perimeter defense was felt as Serbia built a significant lead before Team USA’s comeback.
Adding fuel to the fire, former Celtics legend Bob Cousy accused Kerr of harboring an anti-Celtics bias, a claim Kerr has firmly denied.
Despite the controversy, Tatum has remained focused on the team’s ultimate goal of winning the gold medal.
“It’s hard to not play, and I’m guessing it’s exponentially harder when you are one of the best players in the world,” said Celtics president of basketball operations, Brad Stevens. “But when we’ve talked, he’s been all about the team. This is such a unique opportunity to win a gold medal in the Olympics. He’s always ready”.
As Team USA prepares for the gold medal game against France, all eyes will be on Kerr’s rotation decisions. Whether Tatum will see more playing time remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the debate over his benching has added an unexpected layer of drama to Team USA’s Olympic journey.
