Fresh off his first NBA title win, Jayson Tatum was expected to play a significant role for Team USA at the Paris Olympics, especially due to his vast experience in FIBA competitions. Instead, the Celtics forward rode the bench for two of the six games in Paris and averaged 17.7 minutes in his four outings.
Tatum’s sporadic usage led to many criticizing Team USA head coach Steve Kerr, with some even urging the Celtics star to sit out the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in protest.
To his credit, Tatum remained even-keeled throughout the Olympic experience, even though he wished he had received more playing time, per The Boston Globe’s Tara Sullivan.
“I can’t lie. It was challenging,” Tatum said of his lack of playing time. “Especially after the experience of the highest of the highest winning a championship, and then put in a new situation where you’ve never been in that spot before. But you know, I didn’t want to make it about me… I just stayed a professional. I came to work every day. Just stay ready.”
Besides a slew of current and former players, rapper Vince Staples posted a message to show solidarity with Tatum. Interestingly, Tatum shared the post on his social media, fueling chatter that he was unhappy about his playing time for Team USA.
