Jayson Tatum regarded earlier than he leapt into the Olympic basketball pool.
The Boston Celtics star waited till final week to decide to enjoying for the USA Basketball staff on the Tokyo Olympics as a result of he needed to see who else would be part of the squad, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Saturday, citing sources. The Celtics’ season ended June 2, however Tatum reportedly did not choose onto Crew USA till round June 15. Throughout that interval, he spoke with Portland Path Blazer star Damian Lillard, who was among the many first NBA stars to commit.
“Lillard was additionally in communication with Boston Celtics wing Jayson Tatum, who delay his resolution on Crew USA for a while after the season ended to judge his offseason priorities,” Windhorst wrote. “Tatum was on the 2019 World Cup staff that completed a disappointing seventh, partly as a result of Tatum sprained his ankle in pool play.
“When it was clear how the staff was shaping up, Tatum’s uncertainty pale and he dedicated, sources stated.”
Given the make-up of Crew USA’s roster and its historic and up to date success, Tatum has a good chance of getting back from Tokyo with a gold medal.
Tatum’s hesitation is comprehensible, particularly contemplating his expertise on the 2019 FIBA World Cup. The roster Crew USA delivered to match was weaker than this 12 months’s group, and their outcomes confirmed higher-caliber gamers are essential to realize success at worldwide stage.
