The United States men’s basketball team advanced to the Olympics gold medal game with Thursday’s 95-91 win over Serbia, but the story locally is that Celtics star Jayson Tatum was a healthy scratch for the second time this tournament.
Even as the U.S. fell behind by as many as 17 points and faced the makings of a complete disaster, Tatum, a First Team All-NBA player who just won an NBA title, remained glued to the bench, stuck in USA coach Steve Kerr’s doghouse for reasons that no one seems to understand.
Kerr and his highly questionable decision-making ultimately got bailed out by Steph Curry, whose game-high 36 points led the Americans to a comeback victory and a date with host nation France in Saturday’s gold medal game.
Tatum has now played the second-fewest minutes of anyone on Team USA at the Olympics, ahead of only Tyrese Haliburton. They are the only two players to register two DNPs.
Appearing on The Greg Hill Show Friday as part of the show’s 5th Birthday Bash, Celtics owner and governor Wyc Grousbeck said he is just as confused as everyone else.
“I mean, I wouldn't play Steve Kerr, let me put it that way,” Grousbeck said. “What's going on? It's a mystery. It's a complete mystery. I think Jayson doesn't deserve anything but praise, kudos and playing time. I think he and Jaylen [Brown] led us to this unbelievable championship, and they're not, apparently, helping out the Olympic team. They're not able to be helpful in the Olympic team, and just leave it at that. It's mystifying.”
Cohost Courtney Cox suggested in her “Lead” earlier in the show that this will end up being a good thing for the Celtics because both Tatum and Brown – who was left off the Olympic team entirely – will use the disrespect as motivation to go out and prove themselves again with another championship season.
Grousbeck also thinks that could be the case.
“I was on that duck boat with Jayson … and he’s wearing a shirt that says ‘Don’t stop disbelieving.’ That was his motto even in the parade,” Grousbeck said. “It’s like, how do you like me now? Hopefully this is fuel.”
Tipoff for Saturday’s gold medal game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET. We’ll see if Tatum gets to play or if he remains out of Kerr’s rotation.