Tatum and Haliburton both did not see the court for the US in our first Group match against Serbia
In a strategic move, Team USA basketball coach Steve Kerr made some important decisions during their 110-84 victory over Serbia in the opening group play game on Sunday. Despite being a key player in the team’s pre-Olympic exhibitions, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum did not get any playing time.
Tatum, who had averaged 17.6 minutes per game across five exhibition matches, was benched as Kerr revamped the lineup to integrate Kevin Durant’s return. Durant, absent from the exhibition games, seemingly took Tatum’s spot in the rotation for the game against Serbia.
“It’s tough, but Jayson handled it really well. I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin coming back, and the lineups I wanted to get to,” Kerr said.
The USA coach then went on to explain how he feels being unable to play more than 10 players due to FIBA games being only 40 minutes. That seemed to be Kerr’s other reason for leaving Tatum on the bench. (It is not enough given the importance of this admission)
“I felt like an idiot not playing him, but in a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10,” Kerr said about the DNP for Tatum. “He’s an amazing guy, great player and handled it beautifully. He’ll be out there next game.”
Tatum was the best player overall on the Celtics’ title-winning side but other Celtic players are playing more
Tatum, who had been instrumental in the team’s pre-Olympic exhibitions, recently led the Celtics to their first NBA title since 2008. Despite his high-profile status, he was not the only star to remain on the bench, as Indiana Pacers standout Tyrese Haliburton also did not see action.
Kerr emphasized the need to prioritize the team’s current goals over individual NBA achievements. “The key is to put all the NBA stuff in the rearview mirror and just win six games,” Kerr explained. “Jayson’s the ultimate pro and champion. He handled it well and will be ready for the next one.”
Kevin Durant, making his return from a calf injury, played a crucial role, scoring 23 points with an impressive 8-of-9 shooting performance. As Team USA prepares for their next group play game against South Sudan on Wednesday, they aim to maintain their strong performance.
