There is a difference between today’s media and what it used to be two decades ago. You could say there are more speculations and rumors around things than before. Especially with athletes like LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and others, situations can get trickier. More importantly, there seems to be a mild distance between the media and the players for the same reason. This feels like a saddening reality for someone like the Detroit Pistons legend Grant Hill. But as the saying goes, “It is what it is.”

Speaking on The Ringer NBA Show, Hill, dissected the present-day media scenario that played a major role in Jayson Tatum’s disheartening Olympics stint. Steve Kerr benched JT, but the situation created more noise than clarity. From talks about the Boston Celtics’ star’s “villains original” arc to talks about veterans getting the upper hand. There has been a lot of wordplay and maybe reality took a back seat.

Expressing his disappointment on Kawhi Leonard missing the Olympics glory earlier year, Grant Hill, shared his thoughts. And dare we say it, the NBA legend didn’t hold back. “I say that the theory that was presented was false. I guess it’s not true. But that probably should have been one-on-one in a conversation with him,” Hill commented. “The Tatum thing was just unfortunate and you know, I think what I got a taste of was the noise. I got a taste of how it impacts everything and how it’s hard to shut off.” 

Back in the day, Grant Hill shared that the editorial process vetted stories that were “baked in some truth for the most part,” despite the noises. And the players often hit a jab at the columnists for false narratives. But now, the noise of something that goes viral may not be true. “And I think you know how it applies to the Tatum thing,” Hill opined. “I just think there’s so much noise out there that these guys are so guarded now and are so careful and they don’t have maybe. The same rapport with the media that we had 20 years ago because there’s just a lack of trust. And so the noise was deafening around that.”

The Olympics episode changed Jayson Tatum‘s gameplay. People debated whether he was ready for the event. If he was, why did they bench him? If not, why did they choose him? Moreover, the online chaos affected the relationship between Tatum and Steve Kerr, and it still affects them. Now, if Tatum walks past Kerr, we think, “He’s ignoring him,” thanks to the Olympics storyline.

DeMarcus Cousins explained how Jayson Tatum became the victim of Team USA’s old rituals

There was a lot of chaos after Coach Kerr benched Jayson Tatum. Fans repeated two reasons for feeling that the 26-year-old forward was being let down by his teammates. First, JT had just won the 2024 NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics. Second, Tatum proved himself in the league thus he deserved a fair chance to prove himself for the US. But, a former player of the 2016 Olympics winning team DeMarcus Cousins recently explained the possible reason behind JT’s benching.

” I’ve been a part of Team USA. I know how that thing works. You have to kind of wait your turn when veteran guys who have been part of the program for years get their chance first. It’s no disrespect to the guys coming up underneath—that’s just how Team USA works. Jayson just happened to be a victim of that moment,” Cousins revealed.

In the 2012 London Olympics, veteran players took priority. Despite being the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Anthony Davis was last on the bench. The roster featured stars like Bryant, LeBron, Durant, Anthony, and Chris Paul. Davis, though highly regarded, had to wait for his turn. This shows how experience often trumps potential.

The media today shapes narratives in ways that often drown out the truth. Players like Jayson Tatum feel the weight of speculation, and the trust between them and the media is fading. Grant Hill‘s reflections highlight how things have changed, with players now more guarded. The noise around Tatum’s Olympics benching proves how viral stories can skew perceptions. In the end, it’s not always about skill; sometimes, it’s about waiting your turn in a game where experience matters more than potential.