Jayson Tatum Had This Thought Amid Olympics News Frenzy
Jayson Tatum was a major storyline in the 2024 Paris Olympics, but not for his play with Team USA.
Tatum took on an extremely diminished role across the Americans' run to a gold medal, which included a pair of contests that didn't feature the Boston Celtics star at all. Steve Kerr's bizarre handling of Tatum commanded significant attention, as basketball fans and media members alike all felt inclined to share their opinions on the polarizing matter.
Mind you, Tatum's Olympic saga arrived after the most impactful season of his NBA career to date as well as a record-breaking contract extension. So, the 26-year-old felt a bit helpless when he became a headline fixture during a typically slow portion of the basketball calendar.
"It's one of those things where there's been so much talk and debate," Tatum told The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "There was a period of is he a superstar or not? Then it was a big debate, like, is he championship ready now? Then it's like how could he not get in the (Olympics)? I'm like, I just won a championship, it's the summertime, it might be nice to have a little break where you don't turn on ESPN and they're talking about you. But I guess this is part of it, and that may be the level that I've reached now in my career."
Being under the microscope certainly comes with the territory of being one of the league's best players. And Tatum probably is bound for a new level of attention this season when the Celtics try to defend their NBA championship.
It might feel like an avalanche at times for Tatum, but it certainly beats being an afterthought due to irrelevance.