Jayson Tatum opted to say little or no to the media after receiving a DNP-CD within the Group USA opening victory over Serbia. However Steve Kerr stayed true to his phrase that Tatum would make an impression, because the Boston Celtics star drew the beginning within the second recreation of group play towards South Sudan.
The People picked up their second victory with little resistance on Wednesday, defeating one of many event’s finest tales 103-86. Following the sport towards South Sudan, Tatum addressed the choice whereas chatting with reporters, calling it a “humbling expertise.”
“It is a distinctive scenario, and it isn’t about one particular person participant, competitor in you desires to play clearly, however I am not right here to make a narrative about myself,” Tatum stated after the win towards South Sudan, by way of BasketNews.com. “You win a championship, new contract, ‘NBA 2K25’ cowl, Sports activities Illustrated… so in any case of this, it is undoubtedly a humbling expertise.”
It wasn’t shocking to see Tatum go well with up in Group USA’s second recreation of the 2024 Olympics, however the truth that he began was noteworthy. Tatum performed 17 minutes within the victory, scoring 4 factors on 2-of-4 capturing whereas including 5 rebounds, two assists and one block.
The 26-year-old additionally admitted he was glad the crew received on Wednesday and that he may get again on the ground after all of the “chatter” following the opener.
“We received; I used to be simply glad to get again on the market and play once more, as there was a whole lot of chatter over the previous couple of days,” Tatum added.
For good measure, Kerr additionally caught together with his preliminary plan to vary the rotations, as Joel Embiid, who began the opener, drew the DNP-CD towards South Sudan.
The People’ impressively well-rounded effort fueled the victory, as six gamers scored in double figures. Bam Adebayo put collectively a dominant efficiency in Embiid’s absence, scoring 18 factors with seven rebounds and two blocks on 8-of-10 capturing. The Miami Warmth star additionally knocked down 2-of-3 pictures from past the arc, a facet of Adebayo’s recreation that is hardly ever seen.
