Jayson Tatum discusses being in a “weird rhythm” at Paris Games

Celtics

“It’s a weird rhythm being with Team USA; you never quite know when you’re going to get the ball.”

Jayson Tatum cited that he was in a “weird rhythm” when discussing his performance on Paris Olympics.

“I know I didn’t make a jump shot when I was with Team USA,” the Celtics star told the New York Times. “I don’t know, the law of averages. It’s a weird rhythm thing being with Team USA; you never really know when you’re going to get the ball. But that’s part of it. You sign up to it because I’ve done it before (at the Tokyo Games).”

This comes after Team USA coach Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Tatum for both of their games against Serbia, which sparked backlash from fans and the media. Kerr later explained that his decision had to do with the short length of Olympic basketball games – at 40 minutes – and having to balance an 11-player roster in that time.

“In the age of social media, you see everything,” Tatum told the New York Times. “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.”

Despite also helping Team USA win gold at the 2020 Games, the Celtics champion played 11 minutes in the final against France and earned 21 points in four Olympic games. Tatum also averaged 5.3 ppg and 17.7 mpg.

“I think everybody knows JT — he’s the ultimate pro,” fellow Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday said Wednesday. “He already knows what it is and what the ultimate goal is.”

Holiday will join Tatum and Derrick White, who also played for Team USA, when the Celtics take on the Nuggets in their first preseason game on Oct. 4.