Inside The Warriors

Steve Kerr Makes New Statement After Jayson Tatum's Olympic Benching

Golden State Warriors and Team USA head coach Steve Kerr was again asked about Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum.

Joey Linn

United States head coach Steve Kerr during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games.
United States head coach Steve Kerr during the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games. / John David Mercer-Imagn Images
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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr received a lot of criticism for his handling of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Playing Tatum the second-fewest minutes on the team, including two DNPs, Kerr opted for other options in his rotation.

"I went with the combinations that made sense," Kerr said on July 28 after benching Tatum for the entirety of Team USA’s win over Serbia in the Olympic opener. "That was for tonight. He handled it well. He’ll make his mark."

Kerr would ultimately have to answer several more questions about his handling of Tatum at the Olympics, often giving similar remarks about lineup combinations and the All-NBA forward handling the decision like a professional.

In a new interview with NBA.com's Steve Aschburner, Kerr laughingly said of Celtics fans, “I think they’re going to be all over me. That’s fine.”

Asked specifically about Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton, who played even less than the Celtics star, Kerr told Aschburner, “Those guys were all great. Jayson handled things so well. Then obviously it became a media subject, but he couldn’t have handled it better. Tyrese, same thing. Every game was different.”

Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. / Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Kerr added, “And we talked about that from the first night – 12 superstars and probably only nine can play consistent minutes. They handled themselves really professionally and pulled for each other. I couldn’t be prouder of them all.”

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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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