The US bought the Olympics off to a great begin with a blowout victory over Serbia. Nonetheless, the win got here with a little bit of bizarre twist, as Jayson Tatum did not play within the sport for Group USA.
Following the sport, United States head coach Steve Kerr mentioned that with Kevin Durant again within the fold, he could not get everybody into the sport.
“It is robust, however Jayson dealt with it very well. I talked to him right now earlier than the sport, that it could play out this manner simply with Kevin coming again, and the lineups I wished to get to,” Kerr mentioned.
The USA coach then defined he seems like he cannot play greater than 10 gamers as a consequence of FIBA video games being solely 40 minutes. That appeared to be Kerr’s different motive for leaving Tatum on the bench.
“I felt like an fool not enjoying him, however in a 40-minute sport, you’ll be able to’t play greater than 10,” Kerr mentioned in regards to the DNP for Tatum. “He is a tremendous man, nice participant and dealt with it superbly. He’ll be on the market subsequent sport.”