Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has publicly criticized his coach, Steve Kerr, for benching Jayson Tatum during Team USA’s Olympic opener against Serbia. Green, known for his outspoken personality, called the decision “wrong” on his podcast, “The Draymond Green Show.”
Green argued that Tatum, a key player for the Boston Celtics, should have seen more playing time, given his recent success in the NBA. “You can’t just bench a guy like Jayson Tatum, who’s coming off an NBA championship and an incredible season,” Green said. “It’s wrong.”
Kerr explained that he benched Tatum to give Kevin Durant extra minutes on the floor, as Durant had just returned from injury. However, Green disagreed with this reasoning, stating that Team USA should stick to a consistent rotation rather than adjusting to opponents.
Green’s comments have sparked a debate about Kerr’s coaching decisions and the role of Tatum on Team USA. While some agree with Green’s assessment, others believe Kerr made the right call given the circumstances.
The controversy has not seemed to affect Team USA’s performance, as they dominated the group stage and entered the medal round as the top seed. However, the discussion highlights the challenges of coaching a star-studded team like Team USA, where tough decisions must be made to balance player minutes and expectations.
