Team USA’s victory in the Paris Olympics brought home another gold medal. But it wasn’t without its challenges, especially for head coach Steve Kerr. With a roster full of stars, Kerr faced the tough task of deciding who would start each game. One of the most controversial decisions was the limited playing time given to Jayson Tatum. The move not only sparked criticism from fans but even drew a call-out from Tatum’s mother.
After the gold medal win, Tatum took a moment to reflect on his experience in the Paris Olympics. He indicated that while the experience was challenging, it wouldn’t be the basis for any future career decisions.
“It was a tough personal experience on the court, but I’m not going to make any decision off emotions,” Tatum said.
“If you asked me right now if I was going to play in 2028—it is four years from now, and I [would have] to take time and think about that. So I’m not going to make any decision based on how this experience was or how I felt individually,” he added.
Jayson Tatum’s Limited Role in Paris Olympics Raises Eyebrows
Jayson Tatum’s time on the court during the Paris Olympics was marked by a series of unexpected decisions from Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. Tatum was notably absent from two of Team USA’s six games, including the Olympic opener against Serbia and the semifinal rematch against the same team.
Kerr acknowledged his initial decision to bench Tatum for the opener as a mistake, referring to it as a dumb decision. Despite this admission, Kerr made the same call in the semifinal game, keeping Tatum off the court once again.
However, Tatum got to play in the gold medal game against France. He came off the bench in the first quarter and contributed 11 minutes of play, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds. Throughout the tournament, Tatum averaged 4.2 points and 4.2 rebounds over his five games.
