Jayson Tatum did not shine all through the 2024 Paris Olympics, despite the fact that the USA did not cakewalk its option to a gold medal end. However then once more, the Boston Celtics star did not have the chance to take action, both.
Tatum was relegated to a backend-of-the-bench position for USA Basketball’s star-filled roster, led by head coach Steve Kerr. Within the semifinals in opposition to Nikola Jokić and Serbia, which got here right down to the wire, Tatum was left on the sideline from begin to end.
The 26-year-old then logged 11 minutes — scoring 2 factors on three shot makes an attempt — within the winner-take-all showdown in opposition to France on Saturday, which did not present Tatum a lot time to make a distinction coming off the bench. However, the five-time All-Star made one factor clear after the difficult expertise in Paris: 2024 will not impression Tatum’s emotions about taking part in in 2028.
“It was a troublesome private expertise on the court docket, however I am not going to make any choice off feelings,” Tatum stated after USA’s 98-87 win over France, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “If you happen to requested me proper now if I used to be going to play in 2028 — it’s 4 years from now and I (would have) to take time and take into consideration that. So I am not going to make any choice primarily based off how this expertise was or how I felt individually.”
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Retaining a participant of Tatum’s caliber, particularly coming off an NBA Finals victory and a record-setting $313 million contract extension with the Celtics, drew suspicions about Kerr’s teaching technique — and rightfully so. Tatum wasn’t the weakest hyperlink on Crew USA’s roster by any stretch, due to this fact, to power the First Crew All-NBA ahead to play benchwarmer on the Olympic stage is extra than simply questionable. When Jokić and Serbia cornered the USA and took a 17-point lead within the second half, Kerr’s squad underwent a horrific defensive stretch and did not even hassle to offer Tatum an opportunity to redirect the momentum. Had Stephen Curry not bailed out Kerr — but once more — the 58-year-old would’ve led arguably the largest upset in USA Basketball historical past.
Although Tatum turned accustomed to the outsider disrespect all through Boston’s victorious run to the Finals a pair months in the past, there’s a silver lining to be thought of: The 2024 Olympics had been (presumably) Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant’s farewell as members. Kerr, too, is not a assure to return in 2028, however Tatum, who shall be 30 years outdated on the time and nonetheless within the midst of his prime, shall be ready with 4 extra years of NBA expertise; maybe tasked with being the chief of Crew USA in Los Angeles.
“A part of being within the second, I’ve sacrificed and put so much into this recreation and work actually, actually arduous,” Tatum stated, per Windhorst. “So within the second it’s robust. You are not essentially frightened about fueling me for November or (each time) the season is, however like I stated, it is one thing I am going to remove from this and be taught from this expertise. It is undoubtedly difficult and humbling on the identical time.”