Team USA coach Steve Kerr admitted he made a mistake by not playing Jayson Tatum in the team's opening game of the Paris Olympics against Serbia.
Team USA men's basketball began their quest for Olympic gold in Paris with an impressive 110-84 victory over Serbia. However, the game was marked by the absence of star forward Jayson Tatum from the rotation.
Head coach Steve Kerr took responsibility for the decision after the contest, acknowledging, "I felt like an idiot not playing him." Kerr explained that he had a limited number of players to use in the 40-minute game and opted to go with a different starting lineup.
Steve Kerr Calls Himself an 'Idiot' for Not Playing Jayson Tatum in Team USA Opener
"So, I think [Tatum's] an amazing guy, great player, and handled it beautifully," Kerr said. "He'll be back out there next game."
Tatum's skills on the court are undeniable, having been named a first-team All-NBA selection in each of the past three seasons, including during the Celtics' championship-winning campaign this year.
Steve Kerr Calls Himself an 'Idiot' for Not Playing Jayson Tatum in Team USA Opener
Kerr indicated that Tatum would get his chance to play in subsequent games. The United States faces South Sudan on July 31 in Lille, France, a team that has previously given Team USA trouble in an exhibition match in London.
Kerr admitted to speaking with Tatum before the game to inform him of the potential limited playing time. "Yeah, it's tough, but Jayson handled it really well," Kerr said. "I talked to him before the game that it may play out this way, just with Kevin [Durant] coming back and the lineups that I wanted to get to. But that will change. Jayson's going to play, every game's going to be different based on matchups."
Steve Kerr Calls Himself an 'Idiot' for Not Playing Jayson Tatum in Team USA Opener
Durant ended up leading the team in scoring with 23 points, shooting a perfect 8-for-8 in the first half. Kerr also utilized Bam Adebayo, Anthony Davis, and Anthony Edwards in the victory over the Serbian squad led by Nikola Jokic.
Despite the win, Kerr's decision to bench Tatum raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike. The Celtics star has proven his value time and time again, and his absence was noticeable on the court.
However, Kerr's willingness to admit his mistake and publicly praise Tatum's professionalism demonstrates a high level of accountability and respect for his players.
As Team USA continues its pursuit of Olympic gold, it will be interesting to see how Kerr integrates Tatum into the rotation and how the young star responds to the challenge.
