The USA clearly beat Serbia to start. However, the return of Kevin Durant meant there was suddenly no more room for Jayson Tatum. Head coach Steve Kerr explained after the game why the Celtics star was left out
“I feel like an idiot for not letting him play,” Kerr said after the game. “But the thing is, the game only lasts 40 minutes and you can’t have more than ten players playing.” In addition to Tatum, point guard Tyrese Haliburton also did not see any playing time.
Tatum won his first championship with the Boston Celtics in the previous season, with the forward averaging 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists. The 26-year-old was also selected for the All-NBA First Team. At the same time, the Finals MVP award went to Jaylen Brown, who was not nominated by Kerr at all
Kerr revealed that he had already informed Tatum before the game that there might not be a spot for him in the rotation due to Durant’s return. “Jayson took it well when I said how we were planning,” and also asserted that Tatum would get his chance during the tournament. “He will play. Every game is different, we’ll see different matchups. “
Steve Kerr raves about Kevin Durant
The decision in favor of Durant ultimately paid off. The three-time gold medalist scored 21 points in just over eight minutes in the first half, sinking all eight of his shots. The 35-year-old changed the dynamic of the game, with the USA still trailing by five points before he came on.
“He’s just so talented,” Kerr said of KD. “He looked like we were in the middle of a season when he hadn’t played a game in a few months.” The forward had missed the entire preparation due to a persistent calf injury and did not play in a single preseason game.
The USA are back in action on Wednesday, when they face South Sudan again, who they beat 101:100 by the skin of their teeth in London. The Africans also won their opening game, beating Puerto Rico 90:79.
