On Sunday, the USA had their first sport of the 2024 Olympics vs. Serbia. The United States completed 5-0 of their exhibition video games and so they stored that profitable streak alive vs. the Serbians. Workforce USA received 110-84 and used to be led through Kevin Durant’s 23 issues off the bench. He performed 17 mins and hit his first 8 photographs to start out the sport.
Head trainer Stever Kerr used 10 of his 12 to be had gamers on an especially proficient roster. The 2 gamers who didn’t see any taking part in time vs. Serbia had been Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum. After the win on Sunday, journalists requested Kerr why a a couple of first-team All-NBA variety like Tatum didn’t see any taking part in time. Workforce USA’s head trainer didn’t pass into element however mentioned the Celtics ahead will play Wednesday vs. South Sudan.
Be expecting to look Jayson Tatum at the ground Wednesday when the American citizens play South Sudan
“Jayson will play [Wednesday]. I’m now not going to reply to your subsequent query, which is that if he performs, who doesn’t.” 👀
Steve Kerr vowed to play Jayson Tatum in opposition to South Sudan and defined why he didn’t see the ground in opposition to Serbia👇 https://t.co/1zK5cY5VEj
— ESPN (@espn) July 29, 2024
The skill on Workforce USA’s roster for the 2024 Olympics is simple. It’s now not a very easy choice for head trainer Steve Kerr and his training workforce to select who’s going to play. During the primary 5 exhibition video games, all 12 gamers noticed motion for the American citizens. Of their first Olympic fit of 2024, two gamers didn’t see the court docket for Workforce USA. They had been Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton. Tatum is without doubt one of the absolute best gamers within the NBA and rightfully made the roster. He used to be on Workforce USA’s gold medal roster on the 2021 Olympics and performed a large section in them profitable.
Then again, the American citizens have an absolutely loaded roster this time round. Steph Curry, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid are all taking part in for Workforce US in 2024. Moreover, Sunday’s sport vs. Serbia used to be Kevin Durant’s first sport again since injuring his calf. In his rationalization to the media, head trainer Steve Kerr mentioned the training workforce made up our minds they wanted to make use of a lineup with extra dimension. That’s why Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Bam Adebayo all noticed taking part in time. Even Jayson Tatum’s teammate Derrick White noticed 16 mins off the bench for america. White used to be a past due addition to the roster when Kawhi Leonard needed to depart because of harm.
Tim Legler on Jayson Tatum now not taking part in:
“I utterly disagree with what came about, I assumed it used to be extraordinarily disrespectful. Jayson Tatum has a better resume than guys that had been taking part in”
Ideas? 🤔
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) July 29, 2024
South Sudan is a workforce that gave america hassle of their exhibition video games. It took the heroics of LeBron James to hit a game-winning shot for the American citizens. ESPN’s Brian Windhorst famous that South Sudan had a skilled roster with lots of athletics. It makes extra sense for Jayson Tatum to play Wednesday. Nonetheless, it used to be bizarre for a participant of Tatum’s caliber not to see any taking part in time in any respect. Somebody like Tatum doesn’t sit down at the bench until he’s injured and can not play. Tatum used to be totally wholesome and to be had on Sunday. Steve Kerr mentioned the 26-year-old will play Wednesday vs. South Sudan.