Steve Kerr Makes Jayson Tatum Lineup Decision Before USA vs Brazil

Steve Kerr made an unexpected lineup change with the Celtics All-Star on Team USA.

United States guard LeBron James (6), small forward Jayson Tatum (10), shooting guard Stephen Curry (4) and center Joel Embiid (11) in the second quarter against Puerto Rico during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Mandatory Credit: / John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Team USA is facing Brazil on Tuesday in a Paris Olympics quarterfinal game. Heavy favorites to defeat Brazil and advance to the semifinals against Serbia, Team USA has a major talent advantage in this game. Nothing illustrates this more than who the USA has coming off their bench, as several of their reserves would be the best players on other teams in this tournament.

Making a starting lineup change for this game, Golden State Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr removed Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum from the starting lineup. Kerr replaced Tatum with his Celtics teammate, as Jrue Holliday was reinserted into the starting lineup.

USA forward Jayson Tatum (10) looks on in the third quarter against Canada in the USA Basketball Showcase at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: / Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Tatum started and played 23 minutes in USA’s victory over Puerto Rico to end the Group Phase, but will now be moved to the bench for this quarterfinal game.

Jayson Tatum was already the subject of a controversial moment when he was a DNP-CD against Serbia in an earlier Olympic game. It was a moment that Tatum called "humbling."

"You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated... so after all of this, it's definitely a humbling experience," Tatum said to reporters on July 31.

If there's anything that Tatum's previous experience against Serbia taught him, it's to not take this benching personally. He's on a bench that contains Kevin Durant, Bam Adebayo, and many other All-Stars. Now isn't the time to take things personally, it's just the time to win.

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