It seems that while much of the rest of the wider NBA world had largely moved on from Steve Kerr’s decision to bench star Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum for Team USA in the 2024 Paris Olympics, not everyone has.
In fact, a key member of the Golden State Warriors (Kerr’s team to coach in the NBA), veteran big man Draymond Green, took his Association coach and his assistants to task for the choice in a recent episode of his eponymous podcast. “Not playing (Tatum) was wrong,” said Green via SI’s Kristen Wong. “We all know it was wrong. He should’ve played. He didn’t”
“What I don’t like about it is, now to me, it feels like a covering my tracks, proving a point type of thing to where, oh now Joel (Embiid) is out of the lineup,” he added.
Celtics Lab 276: A closer look at the Olympics, Team USA, and the Celtics with Noa Dalzell https://t.co/8pKriN9TpA pic.twitter.com/BxWhKDs48x
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 5, 2024
“And then (Saturday), Jrue (Holiday) didn’t play,” continued Green. “From the outside looking in, it comes off as, ‘We made a mistake as a coaching staff.”
Whether it was a cover-up, a conspiracy, or part of the plan, Team USA is rolling. Undefeated in group play, the US National Team faces Brazil in their first knockout round game.
And something tells us they will win no matter who sits, and who plays.
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