Inside The Warriors

Boston Celtics Legend Slams Steve Kerr for Controversial Jayson Tatum Decision

Bob Cousy criticized Golden State Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr during the 2024 Paris Olympics

Joey Linn

Aug 3, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States small forward Jayson Tatum (10) warms up before a game against Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Aug 3, 2024; Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France; United States small forward Jayson Tatum (10) warms up before a game against Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
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Golden State Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has been receiving a lot of criticism for his controversial decision to not play Jayson Tatum in Thursday's semifinals game against Serbia. Among these critics is Boston Celtics and NBA legend Bob Cousy, who slammed Kerr in an interview with Dan Shaughnessy of The Boston Globe.

"This isn't just a snub," Cousy said. "This is an embarrassment for that poor kid all over the [expletive] world. The Olympics have gotten that big. Everyone's going to think that there's something wrong this this kid."

Cousy added, "Tatum is on the cover of Sports Illustrated this month. Any experts that I’ve read lately have chosen him in the top five, and sometimes No. 1 in the [expletive] world. Now Kerr is telling the world that he doesn’t agree."

The Hall of Fame point guard had several more strong statements in his full interview with Shaughnessy, making it clear that not only does he disagree with the decision making, but believes bias is a factor.

"When Kerr did it last week, he was in no danger of losing the game, but in this case they got down by 17 points and he’s got to worry about losing the game," Cousy added. "And then to not let Tatum get off the bench — to me, there’s got to be some kind of bias that he’s got against the Celtics. He’s not alone there."

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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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