A Global Humiliation: Tatum's Parents Voice Outrage – Why Was He Benched?

The recent Olympic semifinal between Team USA and their opponents will undoubtedly go down as one of the most thrilling matches in Olympic basketball history. Team USA, stacked with a star-studded lineup, found themselves trailing by as much as 17 points and entering the fourth quarter down by double digits. Yet, in a stunning turn of events, they mounted a ferocious comeback, outscoring their opponents 32-15 in the final quarter to win 95-91, securing their place in the gold medal game. The final minutes saw Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry take over, leading the charge and sealing the victory with a flurry of clutch plays. The sight of the trio celebrating their win in unison, roaring with triumph, is a moment that will be remembered for years to come.

However, the close call raised questions about the coaching decisions of Steve Kerr, whose rotations and player usage have come under scrutiny throughout the tournament. One of the most perplexing decisions was the complete benching of Jayson Tatum, a player widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Despite his stellar resume and recent accomplishments, Tatum did not see a single minute of action in the semifinal, a decision that has left fans and analysts alike scratching their heads.

Tatum’s exclusion from the lineup was not an isolated incident. He, along with Tyrese Haliburton, was also benched in the previous game against Serbia, another close contest. While Haliburton’s limited role on this Team USA roster might be understandable, given the depth of talent at the guard position, Tatum’s benching is far more puzzling. Tatum, after all, is not just any player. This summer, he achieved numerous milestones in the NBA, including winning an NBA championship, earning First Team All-NBA honors for the third consecutive year, and signing the largest contract in NBA history, a five-year, $315 million deal. Moreover, Tatum has proven himself on the international stage before, playing a key role in Team USA’s gold medal run at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. During that tournament, Tatum came off the bench in all six games, averaging 15.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in just 20.5 minutes per game, while shooting an impressive 49.3% from the field and 44.7% from three-point range.

Given this track record, many are struggling to understand why Kerr decided to leave Tatum on the bench, especially in such a high-stakes game. Kerr’s explanation, which he offered in the post-game press conference, has done little to quell the growing discontent. According to Kerr, Tatum’s absence from the game had nothing to do with his individual performance but was instead a result of “team chemistry and rotations.” Kerr cited the return of Kevin Durant as a major factor in his decision-making, explaining that Tatum’s lack of playing time was more of a “mathematical issue” than anything else.

But for many, this explanation falls flat. One ESPN analyst took to social media, writing, “Can someone tell me if Tatum is injured? He didn’t get a single minute on the court. He’s not getting the playing time that an All-NBA First Team player deserves.” Tatum’s mother, Brandy Cole, also weighed in, sharing the post and adding, “No, he’s not injured. But if you know what’s going on, please tell me. Being DNP’d is unacceptable and makes no sense.” She also shared a post from a Boston Celtics beat writer, which read, “If Kerr thinks Tatum can’t help the national team, then I don’t think he’s qualified to coach the next Olympics.” Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum, echoed these sentiments, responding to Kerr’s “mathematical issue” explanation with, “Bro, come on, you can’t be serious.”

Tatum’s parents are not the only ones upset. A number of NBA players and legends have also voiced their confusion and frustration. Paul George, speaking on his podcast, said, “I just don’t get why Tatum wasn’t playing. I know sacrifices need to be made, but that shouldn’t fall on Tatum.” His guest, Trae Young, agreed wholeheartedly. Celtics legend Bob Cousy took it a step further, saying, “This isn’t just a snub, it’s a global humiliation for that poor kid. The Olympics are such a massive stage, and now everyone is going to think there’s something wrong with Tatum.”

So far, Tatum has remained silent on the matter, choosing not to address his DNP directly. When asked about the challenges of playing a different role for the national team, he offered a diplomatic response: “Every game is different, but the key is to win. So whatever I have to do, whatever role I need to play to be a part of that, I’m going to do my best to contribute.”

Objectively speaking, Tatum’s performance in the Olympics has not been up to his usual standards. In the three games he has played, he’s averaged just 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, while shooting 38.9% from the field. However, this decline in production does not seem to justify his complete removal from the rotation, especially considering that he wasn’t given a chance from the very first game. It leads to the suspicion that Kerr may simply not know how to best utilize Tatum’s talents within this team.

In fact, Kerr’s decisions throughout this Olympic tournament have been questioned repeatedly. His clockwork-like substitutions during the semifinal against Serbia, despite the team trailing, raised eyebrows, and had it not been for the heroics of Durant, James, and Curry, the outcome could have been much different. One can only imagine the level of criticism Kerr would have faced if Team USA had lost that game.

As for Tatum, this experience might serve as motivation heading into the next NBA season. After all, FIBA basketball is a different beast compared to the NBA, and while Tatum is a bona fide superstar in the NBA, he has struggled to find his footing in the international game, at least under Kerr’s system. But this Olympic snub could be just the fuel he needs. With the Boston Celtics already gearing up for a strong season, fans can expect Tatum to come out with something to prove. And with teammate Jaylen Brown also having been left off the Olympic roster, the “Jay-Team” might be looking to make a statement against Kerr’s Golden State Warriors when the NBA season rolls around.

In the end, Tatum’s DNP in the Olympic semifinal is a reminder of the often unpredictable nature of international basketball, where even the brightest stars can find themselves on the bench. But for a player of Tatum’s caliber, this moment will likely serve as a powerful motivator, one that could drive him to new heights when he returns to the NBA. For now, though, the basketball world is left to wonder just what might have been had Tatum been given the chance to shine on the Olympic stage.