'Whirlwind' year continues as Jayson Tatum chases Olympic gold

PARIS – The U.S. men’s 5x5 basketball team needs Jayson Tatum.

Coach Steve Kerr made that clear right after he sat Tatum in the 2024 Paris Olympics opening victory against Serbia.

Tatum’s benching dominated a news cycle, but he handled it like a pro. "It's not about one individual player," Tatum said. "The competitor in you wants to play, obviously, but I'm not here to make a story and make it about myself.

“It's definitely a humbling experience, right? Win a championship, new contract, cover of (NBA) 2K, and then you sit a whole game. There’s a lot you can take from me, right? Be frustrated that you want to play as a competitor, but maybe have some empathy for some of the guys on my team that don't always get to play or play spot minutes."

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Since not playing against Serbia, Tatum has been in the starting lineup, and he had his best performance in the final game of group play with 10 points, 10 rebounds and two steals against Puerto Rico.

"He's obviously a talented guy, and the FIBA game is different for everybody," Kerr said. “All these guys are used to getting 20 shots a game, and so everyone has to adapt a little bit, and Jayson has done a great job of trying to adapt and contribute in different ways than he's used to, and I thought he did a really good job of that (against Puerto Rico).”

He was aggressive and active on rebounding, and Team USA faces a rebounding challenge against Brazil in Tuesday’s quarterfinals matchup (3:30 p.m. ET). The winner plays the winner of Serbia-Australia in Thursday’s semifinals.

Through the three games of group play, Brazil is top offensive rebounding team at 13 per game.

"It all starts with defense and rebounding," Kerr said. "I'm not really that concerned about offense other than let's take care of the ball, let's get our spacing right. We're playing off our defense, that's for sure. It's important to focus on keeping that identity now that you're in a different phase.

"We're playing the best teams now and defense, defense, defense. A big part of that is completing the possession with the rebound. Brazil is going to try to maul us on the glass. They're going to send a bunch of guys just trying to steamroll us in there and get offensive rebounds and pick out 3s, that sort of thing. You got to be prepared for the physicality."

Brazil big men Bruno Caboclo and Cristiano Felicio, both former NBA players, average 3.7 and 2.3 offensive rebounds, and guard-forward Gui Santos, who plays for Kerr’s Golden State Warriors, averages 2.0 offensive rebounds.

Certainly, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo, LeBron James and Kevin Durant will need to collect rebounds. But Tatum can be a difference-maker.

"I’ve been an above average rebounder people would say the past couple of years," Tatum said. "Just trying to have an impact on this team. Being 6-9, that’s an advantage that I bring when I’m on the court. Just be out there and be myself."

It’s been a great year for Tatum. He won a title with Boston in June, signed a five-year $315 million max extension with the Celtics and joined the Olympic team shortly after.

"It’s been a whirlwind," Tatum said. "Winning an NBA championship – whatever I thought it would be like, it’s 10 times better. You work so hard to accomplish a goal. Us falling short a couple of times made it that much sweeter. I’m still enjoying it. I am. It feels amazing to be a champion."

Now, he’s three victories from winning a gold, and would join his Celtics and Olympics teammates, Derrick White and Jrue Holiday, as NBA champs and gold medalists in the same year.

The Olympics may have not started the way he wanted. "As a competitor, you want to play but I'm not holding any grudges," Tatum said.

But it can end the way he wants − with his second gold after winning one at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"You never know when you're going to be out there," Tatum said. "Most important thing is that we win. That's all that matters."

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayson Tatum's 'whirlwind' continues as he chases Olympic gold