"This game plan worked" - NBA analyst endorses Steve Kerr amid backlash over Jayson Tatum benching
Ever since Steve Kerr didn’t play Jayson Tatum in Team USA’s opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday, the coach has drawn heavy criticism from all corners of the basketball world. It was expected as Tatum is fresh off of winning a title with the Boston Celtics in 2024 and is one of the best players in his position.
Amid all the criticism, ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst, who is in Paris to cover the Olympics, provided some support for Kerr’s decision. On Monday’s episode of ESPN’s NBA Today, Windhorst said:
“When you just hear that statement, ‘Jayson Tatum gets benched, doesn't play in the game,’ it's such a surprising statement, it's hard to comprehend. When you peel back the layer, you could understand it a little bit. Here's what Steve Kerr's thinking was. Serbia is a team that has got very strong big men, led by Nikola Jokic, three-time MVP, and they've got very good guards.
“They weren't as deep on the wings. So what Team USA's game plan was, was to play three centers. Obviously, the starter, Joel Embiid, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis, and then play three guys who could guard point guards, which would be Anthony Edwards, Derrick White, and the starter, Jrue Holiday.”
Windy continued:
“Then with Kevin Durant coming back, it just squeezed the playing time for the wings, and they made the evaluation that in a 10-man rotation, in a 40-minute game, Tatum didn't fit. Now, I know that that sounds strange, but this game plan worked. Everybody that they used in the game actually played extremely well.”
While it’s easy to criticize Kerr’s decision, it’s important to understand that it’s always difficult to manage a roster with such talented players with limited playing time. While not playing Jayson Tatum on Sunday must have been a tough decision, he is likely to get playing opportunities moving forward.
Steve Kerr didn’t make his stance clear on Jayson Tatum’s playing status for South Sudan game
Despite the criticism coming his way, Steve Kerr is staying firm with his decision-making and declined to say if Jayson Tatum would play Wednesday against South Sudan.
When asked about the same on Monday, Kerr said, via The Athletic:
“I’m not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn’t, but we’re going to need him and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens.”
It’s very clear by now that a coach of Steve Kerr’s experience is not going to be swayed by public opinion. Team USA’s 110-84 win against Nikola Jokic and Serbia only validates his coaching decision. While it may seem unfair on Tatum, coaches are forced to make such decisions in big tournaments and fans shouldn’t read too much into it.