Jayson Tatum registered yet another surprising DNP on Thursday during USA Basketball's 95-91 elimination win over Serbia at the 2024 Paris Olympics, prompting a much-expected reaction.
Nikola Jokić and Team Serbia nearly pulled off the upset, taking a double-digit lead over Team USA into the fourth quarter while Tatum played spectator on the bench, still wearing warmup attire. United States head coach Steve Kerr didn't capitalize on the various opportunities the star-studded USA squad's underperformance provided for a spark, electing to instead keep Tatum seated for the entirety of the Olympic semifinal game which didn't sit well with the closest person in Tatum's life -- his mother.
The postgame reaction ensued when legendary college basketball icon Dick Vitale, too, was taken aback by Tatum's benching and took to social media to publically question whether or not the NBA's highest-paid ($313 million) player is injured -- which would explain a lot. However, Tatum's mother, Brandy Cole, quickly responded and publicized her own displeasure with USA Basketball.
"No he not (injured)," Brandy posted on the social media platform X, hours after USA punched its ticket to the gold medal contest. "But if you find out what's going on please let me know - unacceptable and makes NO SENSE."
Tatum was previously left seated for the entirety of Team USA's win over South Sudan last Wednesday, which was equally as questionable. The 26-year-old did, however, struggle against Brazil on Tuesday, shooting just 1-for-5 with five points, three rebounds, one steal and one block in just under 20 minutes off the bench. Whether or not that played a factor in Kerr's decision-making on Thursday is up for interpretation until the Golden State Warriors head coach opens up -- and that probably won't happen.
Next up, Team USA will compete for a gold medal against France, the last opportunity for Tatum to perform in the Olympics this year.
