Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has admitted facing a humbling experience for Team USA in the Olympics after a recent spectacular year in the NBA. The 26-year-old made his fifth consecutive NBA All-Star Game and earned a spot on the All-NBA First Team for the third straight campaign, capping off the 2023-24 NBA season by claiming the ultimate prize of winning his first NBA Championship.
The St. Louis, Missouri, native was also named to the star-studded United States men’s basketball team currently competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. However, he faced a low point during Team USA’s opening game against Serbia last Sunday, July 28. Tatum did not see action in the game despite the Americans dominating with a 110-84 victory.
Jayson Tatum Admits “Humbling Experience” in Olympic Opener vs Serbia
Tatum finally checked in for the first time in the 2024 Paris Olympics as a starter for Team USA during their second group stage game against South Sudan on Wednesday, July 31. The 6-foot-8 forward finished with 4 points on 2-of-4 shooting from the field, adding five rebounds, two assists, and one block in 17 minutes of game time as Team USA took a lopsided 103-86 win. He talked about not playing in their prior matchup against Serbia after the South Sudan game, per BasketNews.
“You win a championship, new contract, NBA 2K25 cover, Sports Illustrated… so after all of this, it’s definitely a humbling experience.”
Jayson Tatum Praises Celtics Teammate Derrick White For Team USA Contributions
Meanwhile, the reigning NBA champion Celtics have three players on the Team USA roster, which also includes point guards Jrue Holiday and Derrick White. Tatum particularly gave flowers to White, who has played major minutes for the Americans in their first two games, and provided intangibles and hustle that does not show up in the box score.
“Derrick, he has been booming, doing everything that he does, him being a plug and replace guy, you can put him in any system and he will know what to do.”
Team USA will face Puerto Rico for their final group stage game on Saturday, August 3 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille. They now claim a spot in the knockout stage and the top seed in Group C.
