Everyone saw what happened to Jayson Tatum during the Paris Olympics. USA coach Steve Kerr limited the Boston Celtics star’s game time throughout the team’s run to the finals, raising many questions about why Tatum’s minutes were being cut. Rather than being part of a proper rotation, Tatum was held back and played in only 4 of the 6 games. He didn’t even feature in the semi-final, leaving many to wonder why he wasn’t given more opportunities on the court.

But this isn’t the case when Jayson is playing for the Celtics. We recently saw this when Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla trusted Tatum’s leadership qualities and let him lead the team huddle just before the tip-off. Tatum stood in the huddle with a coaching board in hand, giving instructions to the team as they prepared to face the Sixers.

Tatum appeared to hold the coaching board and write, what appeared to be, tactics and then wipe it off once the team talk was over. This is not something we see every day in the NBA and it just goes to show how much the Celtics’ staff and players trust Tatum. Well, whatever Kerr had planned worked, as the Celtics dominated and swept the Sixers with a commanding 139-89 victory. It was a good game for Tatum as well as he bagged 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists in just 23 minutes of game time. Tatum is a crucial player of the Cs going forward, particularly given his exploits last season that propelled the Celtics to the Championship. So, expect Tatum to play a major role this season as well.

Mazzulla has full confidence in Jayson Tatum and his ability to lead the team. The decision to limit Tatum’s playing time sparked significant discussion, with many questioning how Kerr could bench such a key player, especially one fresh off a championship-winning season. Let’s take a closer look at the controversy surrounding Tatum’s role during the Olympics.

What happened between Steve Kerr and Jason Tatum in Paris?

Jayson Tatum went into the Olympics as an NBA champion and he expected to play a major role for Team USA. But to his surprise, Steve Kerr had different plans and limited his game time to a total of just 71 minutes throughout the tournament. “It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson; it’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” Kerr told the reporters.

Kerr explained that the decision wasn’t about Jayson Tatum’s performance, but rather about finding the right combinations on the court. However, this reasoning didn’t sit well with fans, who were eager to see Tatum play and felt the explanation wasn’t convincing.

Tatum described his experience in Paris with a single word, “humbling,” which was the most accurate way to express his feelings.
After Team USA won gold—a moment that should have been a highlight in any player’s career—Tatum, instead, reflected on what went wrong. He mentioned that his supporters have given him confidence. “A lot of people text me and reached out, and said ‘Make sure this fuels you,’ which I appreciate. There’s a lot of people that care about me”. 

He added, “I think the tough part is yes, you can use things to fuel you, but I’m still human”. This shows that while Tatum was concerned about his exclusion, it would not halt his progression. In fact, Tatum’s attitude displays how he turns adverse situations as motivation to perform better. With the preseason already gaining full steam and Tatum’s improving performances, will the Celtics star look to prove a point? Will he aim for the MVP? Is a back-to-back championship in his mind?

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.