Team USA’s dominant 110-84 victory over Serbia in the opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics had a bittersweet note for Boston Celtics fans, as star forward Jayson Tatum did not see any action on the court.
While Jrue Holiday led the team with his impressive performance, Tatum and Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton remained on the bench throughout the game. The absence of Tatum sparked various speculations, including rumors of an illness. However, Tatum himself denied these claims post-game, as reported by Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr clarified that Tatum’s lack of playing time was not due to any illness or injury. Instead, Kerr explained that the decision was based on strategic combinations that he felt were necessary for the matchup against Serbia.
Just asked Jayson Tatum if he was sick, he told me, “No, I’m good.” #Celtics #Paris2024
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) July 28, 2024
“Jayson’s gonna play; every game’s gonna be different based on matchups,” Kerr told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “He’s a total pro, he’s first-team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him, but you know, 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10 [players].
“With Kevin [Durant] coming back, I just went to the combinations that I felt made the most sense. It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and determined these are the lineups I wanted to get to.
[Jayson Tatum] make his mark. Our guys know the key to this whole thing is to put all the NBA stuff in the rearview mirror and just win six games. Jayson is the ultimate pro and champion and he handled it well, and he’s going to be ready for the next game.”
During the game, Kevin Durant and LeBron James led the scoring for Team USA, with Durant putting up 23 points and James adding 21. Holiday contributed significantly with 15 points and two steals, while the third Celtic on the roster, Derrick White, added two points, two steals, and a block.
Jayson Tatum, a key figure for both the Celtics and Team USA, will look forward to making an impact in the next game against South Sudan on Wednesday. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 3 p.m. ET, and fans will be eager to see Tatum back on the court contributing to Team USA’s pursuit of Olympic gold.
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