Inside The Warriors

USA Basketball Coach Steve Kerr Makes Controversial Jayson Tatum Decision vs. Serbia

Golden State Warriors and Team USA coach Steve Kerr benched Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum

Joey Linn

Apr 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacts in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena.
Apr 9, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr reacts in the first half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
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USA Basketball began their Paris Olympics run against Serbia on Sunday. After a perfect 5-0 record in their Showcase Games, USA entered Group Play in good form. Serbia is one of the teams Team USA defeated in their five Showcase Games, but this still projected to be a very difficully matchup.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is also the head coach of Team USA, and he is tasked with the difficult rotation decisions that need to be made with a roster this talented. In Sunday's game against Serbia, Kerr did not have Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in his rotation.

Kerr started Steph Curry, Jrue Holiday, Devin Booker, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid. While many expected Tatum to be featured off the bench, he was out of Kerr's rotation entirely, which was a controversial decision.

In Team USA's final Showcase Game which came against Germany, Tatum played just 14 minutes. Scoring just four points on 2/6 shooting, Tatum was one of the players on the bubble of Kerr's rotation, and the return of Kevin Durant has now pushed him out entirely.

Durant came back from a minor calf injury on fire, going a perfect 8/8 from the field in the first half.

After Team USA's final showcase game, Kerr said, “We can get a lot better. We’re getting to a place now where we’re getting comfortable with rotations… But we can do a lot of things better."

It seems Kerr has now settled on a rotation that does not include Tatum, as the return of Durant needed to push one forward out.

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Joey Linn

JOEY LINN

Title: Credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation Email: joeylinn52@gmail.com Education: Communication Studies degree from Biola University Location: Los Angeles, California Expertise: NBA analysis and reporting Experience: Joey Linn is a credentialed writer covering the NBA for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Covering the LA Clippers independently in 2018, then for Fansided and 213Hoops from 2019-2021, Joey joined Sports Illustrated's FanNation to cover the Clippers after the 2020-21 season. Graduating from Biola University in 2022 with a Communication Studies degree, Joey served as Biola's play-by-play announcer for their basketball, baseball, softball, and soccer teams during his time in school. Joey's work on Biola's broadcasts, combined with his excellence in the classroom, earned him the Outstanding Communication Studies Student of the year award in 2022. Joey covers the NBA full-time across multiple platforms, primarily serving as a credentialed Clippers beat writer.

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