Tatum's Olympic Role Sparks Controversy

Team USA's gold medal victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics was overshadowed by controversy surrounding head coach Steve Kerr's decision to bench Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum in several key games. Tatum's limited playing time, including two games where he didn't play at all, drew criticism from NBA legend Charles Barkley and several other notable figures. Kerr defended his decisions, citing the challenge of distributing minutes among a star-studded roster. Despite the criticism, Team USA achieved its goal, with Tatum expressing mixed feelings about the experience. While Tatum acknowledged the difficulty, he remains open to participating in the 2028 Olympics. The situation has raised concerns about whether future NBA stars might be deterred from joining Team USA due to fears of limited playing time.