Bob Cousy criticizes Steve Kerr for benching Jayson Tatum

Basketball Hall of Famer Bob Cousy, now 96, has expressed concern over Jayson Tatum's lack of playing time with Team USA during the Olympic semifinals. Despite being recognized as the best player on the Boston Celtics, Tatum has been sidelined for significant portions of the tournament, including a recent semifinal victory against Serbia. Cousy noted that Tatum's absence from the regular rotation, while teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have thrived, raises questions about potential biases against the Celtics star. Cousy emphasized the need for someone from Boston to advocate for Tatum, suggesting that the decision to keep him on the bench may not be purely tactical. He pointed out that Tatum's situation appears to be a "math problem," indicating that the limited number of players allowed on the court during international play complicates rotation decisions. Despite the uproar surrounding Tatum's playing time, Team USA remains undefeated with a 5-0 record in the tournament. The dynamics of international basketball, particularly the 40-minute game format and fewer timeouts, often lead to a tighter rotation. While Tatum has averaged 19.9 minutes in his three appearances, his scoring has been modest, with just 6.3 points per game and a shooting percentage of 39. The ongoing debate about his role highlights the complexities of team selection and strategy in high-stakes competitions like the Olympics.