With all eyes glaring at Team USA, the Hoopers did exactly what was expected of them- annihilate Serbia in their Paris Olympics opener. But somehow, that was not the story of the day. What caught everyone’s attention was that Jayson Tatum, the reigning NBA Champion, resorted to the role of a benchwarmer for the entire game. When asked why, Steve Kerr blamed it on the opponent matchup and the length of a FIBA game. However, veteran analyst Stephen A. Smith was not pleased with Tatum’s “damn waterboy” demotion.

Addressing Tatum’s MIA status, the media veteran called out Steve Kerr for not giving any playing time to the Celtics superstar. “It’s unbelievable to me. If you’re gonna bench anybody, bench Derrick White. What are you talking about? And I say bench none of them. Because your talent is so elite, everybody should be able to get a few minutes.”

“LeBron didn’t have to play 27 minutes for you to win. I mean what happened to 23 minutes? What happened to 21 minutes? What are you trying to say?” Smith ranted, yelling at the camera. While Kerr claimed that he couldn’t have played all twelve players because games in the Olympics are only 40 minutes, much shorter than an NBA game, he kept LeBron on the floor for 27 minutes. Yes, King James contributed 21 points and 9 assists in that timeframe, but considering that Team USA ended up blowing Serbia out 110-84, they could have done the same even if LBJ played a little less.

While that could have saved Kerr from all the criticism, had he given a few of LeBron’s minutes to Tatum, the vet analyst further expressed his understanding when a player doesn’t make it to the team sheet at all. “The implication is putting you on the court would be to the detriment of our team that’s what riding the bench means,” he said on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

“Steve Kerr has forgotten more basketball than I know, but I’m pretty damn sure, I bet my career I could’ve found a few minutes for Jayson Tatum,” Stephen A. Smith had added earlier in his rant. Expressing his disgust toward Kerr’s decision, the analyst said, “To have a champion riding the bench like he’s some damn waterboy. You got to be kidding me. I mean, that’s nonsense!” That brings to mind the obvious next question.

Will Jayson Tatum play against South Sudan?

“Every game’s gonna be different based on matchups.” Amid the criticism, Kerr made it clear that his rotation will be determined based on the strength of their next opponents. With Serbia’s lineup dominated by Centers, Kerr chose to play three big men during the game, Embiid, Davis, and Adebayo. But that is likely to change in Team USA’s next game against South Sudan. More importantly, the head coach has already announced that “Jayson will play [Wednesday],” unlike the first game.

Even during the showcase game against South Sudan in London, Tatum came off the bench and played sixteen minutes. And he ended up scoring 9 points in the win. Moreover, Kerr will need JT’s wing presence to contain South Sudan’s pace, “With South Sudan, it’s more about the speed, and speed is a killer.”

However, the head coach refused to reveal who would be benched this time around if Tatum’s role was upgraded, “I’m not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn’t. But we’re going to need him, and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready, because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens.”

With so many options, all great, Steve Kerr has a tough job of determining which player is the most suited to be on the floor. And we will only know his final decision once it’s game time on Wednesday.

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.