Jayson Tatum, fresh off his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, recently shared his thoughts on his time with Team USA during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Despite his critical role in the Celtics’ championship run, Tatum found himself in a different situation on the national team.
Tatum, who played a pivotal role in Boston’s success, did not have the same impact under Team USA head coach Steve Kerr. His involvement was limited, with Tatum appearing in only four of the team’s six games. In those appearances, he averaged 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 17.7 minutes per game.
This was a notable drop from his NBA performance, where Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game while logging 35.7 minutes. The reduced role left many wondering why Kerr didn’t utilize Tatum’s talents more extensively.
When asked about his Olympic experience, Tatum reflected on the unique challenges and opportunities it presented. “It’s been a crazy summer,” Tatum said.
He acknowledged the honor of winning his second Olympic gold medal but didn’t shy away from the fact that it was a different experience compared to his NBA season.
“Fortunate enough to win my second Olympic gold medal on the national team. That was a hell of an experience,” he added.
As Team USA competed on the global stage, Tatum’s reduced role became a talking point among basketball circles. His limited minutes and production were surprising given his status as one of the NBA’s premier players.
