Kerr ‘felt like an fool’ not taking part in Tatum in Workforce USA win vs. Serbia initially appeared on NBC Sports activities Bay Space
Workforce USA’s win over Serbia to open the 2024 Paris Olympics was bittersweet for Boston Celtics followers.
Whereas Jrue Vacation shined in the USA’ 110-84 victory, fellow C’s star Jayson Tatum mysteriously sat on the bench for the whole sport. He and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton have been the one Workforce USA gamers to not log any minutes.
Some speculated that Tatum did not play attributable to an sickness, however he denied that concept after the sport, based on The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn.
Workforce USA coach Steve Kerr confirmed Tatum was not benched attributable to sickness or damage. The 2024 NBA champion sat out as a result of Kerr “went with the combos that made sense.”
“Each sport’s gonna be completely different based mostly on matchups,” Kerr informed ESPN’s Brian Windhorst after the sport. “He is a complete professional, he is first-team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an fool not taking part in him, however , 40-minute sport, you’ll be able to’t play greater than 10 [players].
“With Kevin [Durant] coming again, I simply went to the combos that I felt made probably the most sense. It appears loopy. I believed I used to be loopy after I checked out every thing and decided these are the lineups I wished to get to.
“[Tatum will] make his mark. Our guys know the important thing to this complete factor is to place all of the NBA stuff within the rearview mirror and simply win six video games. Jayson is the last word professional and champion and he dealt with it effectively, and he’ll be prepared for the subsequent sport.”
Tatum watched as future Basketball Corridor of Famers Kevin Durant (23 factors) and LeBron James (21 factors) propelled the People to victory. Vacation was a key contributor on each ends of the ground with 15 factors and two steals. The third Celtic on the roster, Derrick White, recorded two factors with two steals and a block.
Tatum will hope to have a job in the USA’ subsequent sport towards South Sudan on Wednesday. Tip-off for that matchup is about for 3 p.m. ET.
