Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum might have let his feelings boil over and get one of the best of him.
The four-time All-NBA choice, contemporary off main the Celtics to an NBA title, was benched by Group USA head coach Steve Kerr in two out of six video games on the Olympics. Tatum enjoying sparingly within the different contests.
Not many would have blamed Tatum if he gave an earful to Kerr, who confronted an amazing quantity of criticism from seemingly in every single place for protecting one of many NBA’s high gamers sidelined on a star-filled staff.
However Tatum stated he did not confront Kerr over the shortage of enjoying time and as a substitute put Group USA over his particular person wants en path to successful his second gold medal Saturday in Paris.
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“No. I simply stayed an expert,” Tatum instructed reporters, per The Boston Globe’s Tara Sullivan. “I got here to work each day. Simply keep prepared. We bought nice guys on this staff and whilst you really feel such as you should play and the competitor in you desires to play, as a coach for a purpose he makes these selections. Your job as a participant is to remain prepared at any time when your quantity is known as.”
Seeing how issues performed out on the Celtics this season needed to have helped the 6-foot-8, 210-pound ahead on this scenario. Tatum appeared to adapt the mindset of the contingent of position gamers on the Celtics who hardly ever noticed the ground throughout Boston’s championship run however by no means complained — a minimum of not publicly — about their place on the staff.
Tatum did not play within the Olympic opener towards Serbia and was benched once more within the semifinal matchup towards the identical Nikola Jokic-led squad, wherein Group USA overcame a 17-point deficit to earn a slender 95-91 win.
After his second benching, Tatum was the primary participant off Group USA’s bench within the gold medal contest towards France. However he hardly made an impression in his 11 minutes on the courtroom within the 98-87 victory. He shot 1-for-3 from the sphere for 2 factors and grabbed three rebounds.
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Tatum stated he will not let what occurred throughout the Olympics impression his choice to play within the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. However this absolutely could not have been what Tatum had in thoughts when he signed up in pursuit of a gold medal.
“It was difficult,” Tatum stated. “I can not lie. It was difficult. Particularly after the expertise of the very best of the very best successful a championship, after which put in a brand new scenario the place you’ve got by no means been in that spot earlier than. However you recognize, I did not wish to make it about me. I bought an opportunity to come back to work with 11 different guys I bought nothing however love and respect for. And you recognize, we received. I am comfortable about that.”
