Draymond Green blasts Steve Kerr-led Team USA coaching staff's decision to sit Jayson Tatum in Serbia game
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Draymond Green criticized Steve Kerr-led Team USA coaching staff's decision to not play Jayson Tatum against Serbia on July 28. The basketball fraternity was surprised after reigning NBA champion Tatum received zero minutes in Team USA's Olympics campaign opener.
Green underlined the numerous accolades of the Boston Celtics' superstar while lashing out at Team USA's coaching staff's decision.
"You don't not play Jayson Tatum," Green said on ‘The Draymond Green Show’.
"That man just won the NBA championship, Cover of NBA 2K, Cover of Sports Illustrated, just signed the biggest contract in NBA history ... and your reward is don't play and sit down in an Olympic game."
The four-time NBA champion with the Golden State Warriors, Green acknowledged Tatum's poor performance in the exhibition games but affirmed that the 26-year-old should have played against Serbia irrespective of his form. Green labeled the decision to sit Tatum as "wrong".
"JT didn't play well in the exhibition games...and it doesn't matter," Green continued.
"JT come out and not play, I couldn’t believe that. And not playing him, it was wrong. We all know it was wrong. He should’ve played. He didn’t but he should have played," he added.
In the next two group stage games, coach Kerr inserted Tatum in the starting lineup.
The Boston Celtics' forward is averaging seven points on 46.2% shooting. Tatum took three shots from beyond the arc but failed to make even one. He leads the team in rebounds and averages 7.5 boards per game.
Draymond Green unhappy with constant changes in Team USA rotation
Draymond Green also urged coach Steve Kerr to finalize a rotation instead of constantly making changes depending on the opponent. The Warriors star underlined the potential of USA players while making his point.
"Quite frankly, I don’t like it. Like come up with a rotation and stick with it," said Green.
"These teams aren’t good enough to where we trying to match their lineup. They got to match our lineup. Because we got the best players in the world …So the whole like match their lineup or you know this guy out of the lineup now, I disagree with it," he added.
LeBron James and Co. finished the group stage with three consecutive victories. Team USA began its campaign with a dominant 110-84 win against Serbia and followed up with a 103-86 victory against South Sudan. In its last game, Team USA defeated Puerto Rico 104-83.
In the quarterfinal, USA faces Brazil on Aug. 6 (Tuesday).