Steve Kerr Explains Why Jayson Tatum Didn’t Play vs. Serbia: ‘I Went With The Combinations I Felt Like Would Make Sense’

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr explained why Jayson Tatum, one of the top players in the NBA, didn’t play against Serbia. 

Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton were the only players who didn’t play against Serbia. 

“It’s really hard in a 40-minute game to play more than 10 guys, and with Kevin coming back, I just went to the combinations that I felt would make the most sense,” Kerr said. “It seems crazy. I thought I was crazy when I looked at everything and determined these are the lineups I want to get to. Jayson’s first-team All-NBA three years in a row, he’s one of the best players in the world.

“So I went with the combinations that I felt like would make sense and talked to him and he’s incredibly professional. That’s tonight. That doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way the rest of the tournament, so he’ll make his mark.”

Tatum’s Boston Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals in five games. The Celtics star averaged 6.4 points in the five exhibition games versus Canada, Australia, Serbia, South Sudan and Germany. 

Team USA beat Serbia today by a final score of 110-84. Kevin Durant had 23 points on 8-of-9 shooting, while LeBron James finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. 

Team USA will play South Sudan next. 

“I was tired, I’m not going to lie to you,” Durant said after his first game. “My lungs were getting used to that intensity of the game, but it felt good to make some shots.”

Added LeBron: “That’s the best game we played so far.”

LeBron, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Joel Embiid and Jrue Holiday were the starters against Serbia.

Tatum will likely play during the Olympics since he’s a talented scorer and shooter, but it was certainly surprising to see him ride the bench against Serbia.