An NBA Champion, a five time NBA All Star, Jayson Tatum has had nothing but success in his basketball career thus far.
Today, Tatum, 26, has the chance to add two-time Olympic gold medalist to his ever-growing resume.
While the chatter should be about the Boston Celtics star potentially adding that accomplishment to his resume, one specific topic has been a constant headline throughout the summer: playing time.
Tatum has not seen much action in head coach, Steve Kerr’s talent-laden roster. He’s been benched the last two games; most notably in Team USA’s win against Serbia.
“It’s not what I’m not seeing from Jayson; it’s what I’ve seen from the other guys,” said Kerr earlier this week.
“It’s just hard to play 11 people, even in an NBA game.”
Tatum’s best performance for the ultra-stacked USA Basketball squad came in Team USA’s 104-83 win over Puerto Rico.
Tatum’s a hooper. The brotha can play without a doubt. One person who seems to see both sides in this situation is his dad, Justin Tatum.
The eldest Tatum, a coach himself by way of the Illawarra Hawks of the Australian National Basketball League has been in Paris checking out Team USA and supporting his son. Before today’s Gold Medal Game against France, Tatum offered Scoop B Radio his own perspective on his son’s lack of playing time. “As a dad it’s frustrating,” Justin Tatum told Scoop B Radio by phone in France ahead of today’s game.
“As a coach, I would have no reservations of playing him. As a coach I would find a way to play him. Why hasn’t he played? I don’t see it.”
For those keeping score at home: Jayson Tatum helped Team USA clinch gold in the Tokyo Games three years ago. In fact he averaged 15.2 points across six games in the tournament.
Also worth noting: The St. Louis, Missouri native was also the team’s second-leading scorer behind Kevin Durant.
“Unless they don’t think he’s physical enough, it’s gotta be some things internal,” says Justin Tatum.
“He can contribute in some way. He’s a pro. He’s got to figure it out. He’s been a good kid, a successful player the last seven years.”
Justin Tatum, 45, played collegiately at St. Louis University, played high school basketball at the esteemed Cardinal Ritter College Prep and Christian Brothers and had a two-year playing stint playing basketball overseas before settling in as a high school basketball coach for 16-years in Missouri. He won three state championships.
