Boston Celtics champion Jayson Tatum opened up about head coach Steve Kerr’s choice to not play him in Staff USA’s Olympic-opening win over Serbia, calling the expertise “humbling.”
Not many purchased Kerr’s rationalization about “mixtures,” particularly after the Individuals defeated Serbia by 26 factors. Celtics legend Paul Pierce gave a extra easy, but deeper motive on Friday’s episode of “Undisputed.”
“I do not suppose this was humbling. This was extra like a slap within the face,” Pierce stated. “Take into consideration this. After the sport, Kerr was like, what was the phrase he used? He felt unhealthy. Felt like an fool, and you then attempt to sit (Joel) Embiid within the subsequent recreation to type of justify it. Like, ‘Look, I sat the MVP.’ Nah, that ain’t what this was.”
When requested what he thought the actual motive was, Pierce did not hesitate to share that it has extra to do with the NBA group Tatum performs for than the participant himself.
Story continues under commercial
“Simply Celtic hate — good outdated Celtic hate,” he stated. “That is all it is ever been.”
Pierce doubled down together with his reasoning even after it was identified that the 2 different Celtics gamers — Jrue Vacation and Derrick White — have been getting minutes regardless of sporting inexperienced through the NBA season.
“When you find yourself the man for the Celtics, there’s loads of hate,” Pierce stated. “I do know from first-hand expertise. Jaylen Brown, he cannot even get in. He cannot even get on the group, Finals MVP. Take into consideration this, there isn’t any group on planet Earth that Jayson Tatum should not get minutes on. No group on planet Earth. All-Star, USA. This man is coming off a championship; he is been first-team All-NBA for 3 straight years.
“You recognize what which means? I am one of many 5 greatest gamers on the planet. On the planet for the final three years. Folks suppose I am one of many 5 greatest gamers on the planet, and I can not get in a recreation? … Let me inform you one thing: Jayson Tatum matches up with all people. … He is athletically gifted sufficient to protect all these positions. Humbling as he might put it, yeah, he can say these phrases, however I am gonna say this was an insult. Pure insult to a participant of his caliber.”
Story continues under commercial
Tatum has began the final two contests for Staff USA towards South Sudan and Puerto Rico. Within the first matchup, the Celtics ahead had 4 factors, two assists and 5 rebounds. Towards Puerto Rico, he simply missed a double-double with 10 factors and 9 rebounds. Tatum added three assists and two steals to his excellent stat line in Staff USA’s 104-83 victory.
Staff USA has secured an undefeated 3-0 run in Group C to maneuver on to the quarterfinal spherical. Canada (Group A) and Germany (Group B) additionally went undefeated in group play. The Individuals will tackle Brazil on Tuesday for his or her first recreation of the quarterfinals.
