Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has returned home from the Paris Olympics and is already hard at work preparing for the upcoming NBA season, set to tip off in late October. Fresh off winning his first NBA title earlier this summer, Tatum was eager to represent Team USA on the international stage. However, his experience in Paris was far from what he had anticipated.
Tatum, typically a leading figure on the court, found himself in an unfamiliar supporting role with Team USA. More surprisingly, he was benched during two critical games against Serbia—once during group play and again in the semifinal matchup. Team USA coach Steve Kerr explained the decision as a matchup strategy, but the benching of one of the NBA’s top players puzzled fans and became a hot topic of discussion.
For Tatum, who has grown accustomed to intense scrutiny, the media frenzy surrounding the benching was particularly frustrating.
“It’s one of those things where there’s been so much talk and debate,” Tatum told Jared Weiss of The Athletic. “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 I’ve reached now in my career.”
Tatum is acutely aware of the expectations that come with being one of the NBA’s elite players. As his career has progressed and his accolades have increased, so too has the media attention. The conversations about his abilities and decisions surrounding his playing time have only grown louder, especially now that he’s reached the pinnacle of success with an NBA championship.
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Reflecting on the intense coverage of his Olympic benching, Tatum admitted, “It was a lot. In the age of social media, you see everything. You see all the tweets and the people on the podcasts and people on TV giving their opinion on whether they thought it was a good decision or it was an outrageous decision or whatever. Obviously, I wanted to contribute more, and I’ve never been in [this] situation. I started playing basketball at 3 at the YMCA, and I’ve never not played, so it was different and it was challenging.”
Despite the unexpected turn of events in Paris, Tatum remains focused on the future. He knows the scrutiny won’t disappear, especially as the new NBA season approaches. His struggles with three-point shooting during the NBA Finals—where he shot just over 28% from deep—were heavily criticized, and his inability to make a jump shot during the Olympics only added to the narrative.
As Tatum prepares for the new season, he’s determined to change the conversation.
Though his game has few weaknesses, the periods of inconsistent shooting have become a focal point for critics. But Tatum, who has developed into a world-class player for the Celtics, is no stranger to overcoming challenges. He’s ready to prove once again why he belongs among the NBA’s best when the season kicks off in October.
With the pressure of defending an NBA title and the added spotlight from his Olympic experience, Tatum knows the road ahead won’t be easy. But if there’s one thing he’s learned, it’s how to rise above the noise and perform when it matters most.
