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[Saba Sports News] Despite being the reigning NBA champion, Celtics star Jayson Tatum was mysteriously absent from Team USA’s rotation in their opening match against Serbia. Speaking on SiriusXM NBA Radio, basketball legend Charles Barkley criticized head coach Steve Kerr for not playing Tatum at all.
“That’s not a huge downgrade putting Jayson Tatum in the game,” Barkley said. “Everybody deserves to play at least 10 minutes. Chuck Daly did a fantastic job, he had two starting units. He said, ‘You guys are gonna start when we’re playing against the best team.’ But he also had a second starting five for certain games. He rotated everyone, making sure we all got 10-15 minutes of play. You can’t expect everybody to practice and then not play in the Olympics.”
Barkley pointed out that Coach Daly ensured everyone got some time while letting the best players shine in difficult matchups. In Tatum’s case, he shares the same position as LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who were on fire against Serbia, combining for 44 points on 17-21 shooting.
After the game, Tatum acknowledged his DNP (Did Not Play) status and confirmed he was healthy and ready to play. Following fan backlash and media pressure, Steve Kerr admitted he felt like an “idiot” for not giving Tatum any time on the floor.
Tatum, 26, has often been overlooked and underestimated, despite leading the Celtics to their first championship since 2008 and averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4 assists per game last season.
Having signed on to Team USA expecting to play, Tatum now faces uncertainty after being benched in the first game. However, due to public pressure and his own comments, it’s likely Kerr will give Tatum a chance against South Sudan. The pressure will be on Tatum to match the high standards set by LeBron and Durant. If he struggles or disrupts team chemistry, Kerr may pull him out to keep the Gold medal in play.
Barkley believes everyone deserves a chance to shine, especially after sacrificing their summer to help their country win.