The NBA’s highest-paid player ($315 million) Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics acknowledged that the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris was a sobering experience.
Nevertheless, Tatum, 27, wasn’t by himself when head coach Joe Mazzulla dropped everything to check in on the five-time All-Star who was underutilized.
“Even when Tatum was struggling during the Olympics, Mazzulla flew out to France to kind of make sure everything was OK,” Bill Simmons of The Ringer stated on “The Bill Simmons Podcast.” “He is tuned in and is familiar with his roster. I find it amazing how much of a leap he took from Year 1 to Year 2. People adore that guy.”
Along with Derrick White and Jrue Holiday of the Celtics, Tatum joined the incredibly talented USA Basketball squad, which is led by LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. But Tatum wasn’t greeted like the well-established star he has been for the past few years, even though it was just a little over a month after he won the NBA Finals. Head coach of Team USA Steve Kerr left Tatum to record two DNPs, one of which came during a close-called semifinal matchup with Team Serbia and Nikola Jokić. Without offering a thorough justification, Kerr dismissed Tatum as an undeserving benchwarmer who was eclipsed by the NBA’s top players, many of whom aren’t even higher on the list.
“It was a tough personal experience on the court, but I’m not going to make any decision off emotions,”
Tatum played 17.7 minutes a day throughout the Olympics, averaging 5.3 points, 1.3 assists, and one steal. He also hit 0-for-16 from jump, including a terrible off-target 3-pointer against South Sudan that bounced off the side of the backboard. It’s simple to blame Tatum for his shooting slump, but it’s even simpler to cast the responsibility at Kerr for his poor coaching, which put more pressure on Tatum to perform well at the Olympics. With Tatum excluded, Kerr’s terrible rotations put USA Basketball’s gold medal or bust hopes in jeopardy, prompting the highly regarded NBA head coach to withdraw from the Olympics.
Whether it’s during the regular season, postseason, offseason, or 3,400 miles or more away from Boston for the Olympics in Paris, Mazzulla’s loyalty seems to have no bounds.