After securing his first NBA championship, Jayson Tatum joined Team USA for the Olympics with high expectations. However, the 5× All-Star has struggled on the international stage so far. He was benched in the first game against Serbia and only scored four points in the second game against South Sudan. While head coach Steve Kerr continues to rotate players, searching for the best lineup, a former NBA champion has some special advice for the 26-year-old.

In a recent episode of his podcast, Jeff Teague shared a humorous story about Tatum. “I text JT, ‘Get well soon.’ I say f*** them. He ain’t respond,” Teague recounted. Addressing Tatum’s current struggles with Team USA, Teague offered straightforward advice. “You ain’t got to like brag, but you just got to; the energy got to be felt,” Teague stated on the Club 520 podcast. He emphasized that Tatum needs to communicate his concerns with the coach and make his presence known.

Teague further advised that the Boston Celtics star should avoid coming across as boastful. Instead, his energy should be palpable to others. “The energy got to be felt like, yeah, when you come here like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m about to kill these dudes,'” he said. Teague highlighted that as one of the new faces of the NBA and a champion, Tatum must assert himself. Otherwise, as Teague pointed out, people might take him lightly, with even Steve Kerr potentially perceiving him as just “relaxing.”

In a previous interview, Tatum acknowledged the challenge ahead. He expressed his feelings about not being selected for a game, saying, “Win a championship, new contract, cover of (NBA) 2K (video game), and then you sit an entire game. Cover of Sports Illustrated. So it was definitely a humbling experience.”

The USA team is currently 2-0 at the Olympics, just four wins away from capturing a fifth consecutive gold medal. While Steve Kerr’s rotation strategy has been successful for the team, it has inevitably left some players, like Tatum, feeling sidelined.

As the tournament progresses, Tatum’s ability to adapt and make his presence felt could be crucial for both his personal journey and the team’s quest for gold.

Jayson Tatum faces criticism and emphasizes team mentality amid Olympic challenges

Sports analyst and college coach Doug Gottlieb called out Tatum for his comments about not playing. During his show, Gottlieb openly criticized Tatum for expressing humility about not participating in the first Team USA game, while also highlighting his extensive achievements in the NBA. He also pointed out Tatum’s poor performance when he did get the chance to play.

Additionally, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr remarked on the varied strategies needed for different opponents. “We’ve got options for everything, and we’re going to use those options how we best see fit,” he said. Gottlieb also commented on Kerr’s statement, expressing disbelief that Tatum starting wasn’t part of the original plan, adding, “I don’t care what Steve Kerr says about Jayson Tatum starting, I can’t imagine that was originally the plan.”

Gottlieb further explained that being a great NBA player doesn’t necessarily translate to international success. He referred to Tatum as a “colossal pain” for a coach, underscoring the challenges that come with managing a star player in a different competitive context.

Despite the criticism, Tatum spoke about prioritizing the team in the same interview. According to him, the situation is one-of-a-kind, and it doesn’t pertain to just one player. He emphasized his focus on representing the country, saying, “There was a lot of chatter over the last few days but I was in good spirits, I had a good attitude about it. I’m not holding any grudges or anything.”

Stay tuned for more such updates. And, join us for the exciting pilot episode of the “Dual Threat Show”. Our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and SEC All-Freshman Team Selection, Silas Demary Jr.