Steve Kerr defends the decision to sit Jayson Tatum: "It's just about combinations and the way that group has played together."
Jayson Tatum has missed two of Team USA's five games at the Paris 2024 Olympics, including both matchups against Serbia. This involves the crucial semifinal on Thursday, where Team USA found themselves in a tight spot.
Jayson Tatum
| Team: |
Boston Celtics USA |
| Position: | SF |
| Age: | 26 |
| Height: | 203 cm |
| Weight: | 93 kg |
| Birth place: | St. Louis, United States of America |
However, U.S. coach Steve Kerr clarified on Friday that Tatum's absence is not due to any shortcomings on his part.
"It's not what I'm not seeing from Jayson. It's what I've seen from the other guys," Kerr explained, as reported by Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. "Like I've said many times during this tournament and this last six weeks, it's just hard to play 11 people, even in an NBA game."
Kerr further elaborated that Tatum's benching is simply a result of a "math problem."
"It's not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing," Kerr reiterated. "It's just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin [Durant] has filled in since he came back from his injury. It's just a math problem more than anything."
After the group-stage game against Serbia, Kerr admitted, "I felt like an idiot not playing Jayson. But in a 40-minute game, you can't play more than 10 players. You just can't."
Tatum, a three-time All-NBA First-Team selection, has averaged 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in his three Olympic appearances against South Sudan, Puerto Rico, and Brazil.
Team USA will face France for the gold medal on Saturday, in a rematch of the Tokyo Olympic final.
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