Current:Home > Invest'Whirlwind' year continues as Jayson Tatum chases Olympic gold -WealthSphere Pro
'Whirlwind' year continues as Jayson Tatum chases Olympic gold
Indexbit View
Date:2025-04-07 05:38:29
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."
➤ Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
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."
Interactive graphic: Want to train like an Olympic champion? Start with this expert advice.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (63247)
Related
- This was the average Social Security benefit in 2004, and here's what it is now
- Nasty drought in Syria, Iraq and Iran wouldn’t have happened without climate change, study finds
- Judge to rule on temporary block of North Dakota’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors
- Bangladesh raises monthly minimum wage for garment workers to $113 following weeks of protests
- The White House is cracking down on overdraft fees
- A top aide to the commander of Ukraine’s military is killed by a grenade given as a birthday gift
- Biden administration warns of major disruption at border if judges halt asylum rule
- US plans to build a $553 million terminal at Sri Lanka’s Colombo port in rivalry with China
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Possible leak of Nashville shooter's writings before Covenant School shooting under investigation
Ranking
- Brianna LaPaglia Reveals The Meaning Behind Her "Chickenfry" Nickname
- Ivanka Trump set to testify in civil fraud trial, following her father’s heated turn on the stand
- The Excerpt podcast: Trump testifies in fraud trial, hurling insults at judge, prosecutor
- Ohio State holds off Georgia for top spot in College Football Playoff rankings
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Uvalde mother whose daughter was killed in 2022 school shooting on the ballot for mayoral election
- Lebanese woman and her 3 granddaughters killed in Israeli strike laid to rest
- Three dog food brands recall packages due to salmonella contamination
Recommendation
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
A top aide to the commander of Ukraine’s military is killed by a grenade given as a birthday gift
Massive World War II-era blimp hangar burns in Southern California
A series of powerful earthquakes shakes eastern Indonesia. No immediate reports of casualties
Woman dies after Singapore family of 3 gets into accident in Taiwan
Israeli ambassador to the U.S. says Hamas is playing for time in releasing hostages
October obliterated temperature records, virtually guaranteeing 2023 will be hottest year on record
Taylor Swift could pick our next president. Are Americans and Swifties 'Ready For It?'