In Photos: Jayson Tatum unveils Jordan Tatum 3 vs Brazil in Paris Olympics
Jayson Tatum and Team USA comfortably defeated Brazil 122-87 in Tuesday's 2024 Paris Olympic quarterfinal matchup. During the blowout victory, the superstar forward debuted his third signature shoe model, the Jordan Tatum 3.
Tatum's new footwear featured a navy blue, white, dark gray and red colorway, complementing the Americans' uniforms. Meanwhile, he added a personal touch, writing his son Deuce's name with a heart at the bottom.
The Jordan Tatum 3 marks Tatum's second signature shoe model released over the past few months. The Jordan Tatum 2 came out in March, with the five-time NBA All-Star sporting the model during his Boston Celtics' 2024 NBA championship run.
Less than two months after securing his first title, Tatum is only two wins away from locking up his second Olympic gold medal. Thus, it appears Jordan Brand wanted to capitalize on his recent success.
The Jordan Tatum 3 garnered plenty of attention from sneakerheads on Tuesday. However, further details, including the shoe's release date, price point and tech specs, reportedly remain uncertain.
Jayson Tatum struggles offensively while debuting Jordan Tatum 3 against Brazil
While Team USA ran away with Tuesday's quarterfinal contest against Brazil, Jayson Tatum struggled to make an impact offensively.
Debuting the Jordan Tatum 3, the superstar forward tallied five points, three rebounds and one assist, shooting only 1-for-5 (20.0%) in 20 minutes off the bench.
However, Tatum's lone field goal came emphatically, with him converting an alley-oop dunk off a feed from superstar forward LeBron James.
Jayson Tatum has been an up-and-down contributor across the U.S.'s four group phase and knockout-round games. He has appeared in three of four contests, averaging 6.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steals per game, shooting 38.9%.
The reigning NBA champion still ranks second on the team in rebounding behind superstar big man Anthony Davis (7.3 rpg). However, he hasn't made the offensive impact that many expected, particularly from outside, where he has yet to connect on a 3-pointer.
Nevertheless, Tatum has seemingly tried to stay positive, even after getting benched during Team USA's 110-84 group phase-opening win over Serbia. After the game, he touched on his desire to be a team player amid his quest for his second gold medal.
"It's a unique situation, and it's not about one individual player," Tatum said. "[The] competitor in you wants to play, obviously, but I'm not here to make a story about myself."
Tatum and Co. will rematch against Serbia in Thursday's semifinals. It remains to be seen if he will be a bigger factor in coach Steve Kerr's game plan.
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