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Despite receiving backlash over his lack of playing time for Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum at the Paris Olympics, Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said he doesn’t regret his decision.
Ahead of the Celtics and Warriors matchup on Wednesday, Kerr said that while it was a hard choice to make, looking to his stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant in pivotal games was the best move for the team as it brought home a gold medal.
“From the beginning in Vegas, the whole thing was we’re in this together,” Kerr told reporters. “We’ve got 12 Hall of Famers and we’re just committed to winning, and we won the gold medal. I don’t give it a whole lot of thought other than I didn’t enjoy not playing Jayson against Serbia, not playing Joel (Embiid) against South Sudan. Those are not fun decisions. But our guys are all amazing and committed to each other and committed to winning the gold medal.”
Khari A. Thompson @_KhariThompson
Steve Kerr was asked if he regrets benching Jayson Tatum during the Olympics:
“We won the gold medal.” pic.twitter.com/ihEXTuN4U8
Tatum played just 17.7 minutes per game in four games at the Olympics. He didn’t see any action in the United States’ group phase or semi-final matchups against Serbia.
When he was on the court, Tatum didn’t have the success he hoped for, averaging 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, shooting 38.1 percent from the field and missing all four of his three-point attempts.
After the semi-final matchup with Serbia, Kerr explained the benching in a manner consistent with what he said on Wednesday.
“It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing,” Kerr said in August, per Tim Reynolds of the Associated Press. “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.”
In Kerr’s defense, he had a lot of stars to divide the minutes between. He let James, Curry, Durant and Anthony Davis lead the way, leaning on the veterans to bring home the gold. Tatum also wasn’t the only star who didn’t see much playing time as Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey spent plenty of time on the bench.
While Kerr once again reiterated that Tatum’s benching had nothing to do with him as a player, the Celtics star might use it as added motivation as he faces Kerr and the Warriors on Wednesday.
Tatum and the Celtics are off to a tremendous start this season, winning seven of their first eight games behind Tatum’s 30 points, 7.4 boards and 5.1 assists per game.
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