On Wednesday, Jayson Tatum started for Team USA, contributing to their 103-86 victory over South Sudan, which improved their record to 2-0 in group play. However, Tatum only participated in one of the contests.
Team USA began their Olympic campaign with a win against Serbia, but Tatum did not get any playing time. Head coach Steve Kerr opted for a 10-man rotation, leaving both Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton out of the lineup. This controversial decision sparked significant discussion and debate within the basketball community.
Afterward, Kerr acknowledged that he “felt like an idiot” for not playing Tatum but emphasized the professionalism of the Celtics star. Kerr chose lineups he believed made the most sense, which included players like Devin Booker, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White taking the court over Tatum.
Jayson Tatum calls getting benched by Team USA ‘a humbling experience’
After his return to the floor against South Sudan, Jayson Tatum described the experience of being benched as “humbling.” He acknowledged the unique situation, noting that while every player wants to compete, he didn’t want to make the situation about himself. “You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated… so after all of this, it’s definitely a humbling experience,” Tatum said via BasketNews.
In the game against South Sudan, Tatum played for 17 minutes and 20 seconds, recording four points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block while shooting 2-of-4 from the floor. Although his performance wasn’t particularly standout, he contributed by rebounding, facilitating the offense, and using his length on defense. Tatum expressed his relief and happiness to be back on the court, noting, “We won. I was just glad to get back out there and play again, as there was a lot of chatter over the last few days.”
Tatum has made it clear that he’s willing to do whatever is necessary for the team’s success. With stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry leading the way, Tatum has had to adjust to a more complementary role, different from his primary role with the Boston Celtics, where he was the focal point of the offense. On Team USA’s quest for gold, Tatum will need to embrace a supporting role, focusing on cutting, connecting plays, and contributing defensively, especially considering his recent struggles with three-point shooting.
This shift in mentality may be challenging, but Tatum’s unselfish play during Boston’s championship run shows he’s more than capable of adapting to different roles for the benefit of the team.