Jayson Tatum’s role with Team USA has been one of the biggest storylines of the basketball tournament at the Paris Olympics.
After joining the team late due to an excused absence, Tatum got caught up to speed during the exhibition games only to be held out of the team’s Olympic opener against Serbia. 12 days later, Tatum was again out of the rotation as Team USA turned in a rough first-half showing against Serbia in the semifinals of the Olympics basketball tournament.
Why is Tatum not playing in Team USA’s biggest game to date? Here’s more on why his role has fluctuated throughout the Olympics and what can be deduced from his earlier absence against the same Serbia team.
MORE: Live updates as USA takes on Serbia in Olympic basketball semifinals
Why is Jayson Tatum not playing vs. Serbia?
Tatum has not been in the rotation for either of Team USA’s matchups with Serbia at the Olympics. When the teams went head to head during the group stage, Tatum was one of two players who did not play for a coach’s decision.
After Tatum was held out of the rotation in group play, head coach Steve Kerr said, “Every game’s gonna be different based on matchups. He’s a total pro — he’s First Team All-NBA three years in a row.
“I felt like an idiot not playing him, but in a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10. You really can’t.”
Kerr went with a 10-man rotation in the first half of the semifinal game against Serbia, sticking with the same group of players who played in the group play opener on July 28.
Tatum and Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton are the two players who have not yet entered the game against Serbia.
Jayson Tatum stats at 2024 Olympics
- 19.9 minutes per game
- 6.3 points per game
- 6.0 rebounds per game
- 2.0 assists per game
- 1.0 steals per game
- 0.7 blocks per game
- 0.7 turnovers per game
- 38.9 percent field goal shooting
- 83.3 percent free throw shooting
