“Tatum’s Future with Team USA Uncertain After Limited Role; Embiid Relishes Crowd’s Hostility in Olympic Showdown”
PARIS — Jayson Tatum stated that his limited playing time with Team USA this summer won’t influence his future decisions regarding participation with the national team.
Tatum was absent from two out of six Olympic games, including the semifinal win over Serbia. He played 11 minutes off the bench during Team USA’s gold medal win over France, scoring two points and grabbing three rebounds.
Although it was a challenging experience for him personally, Tatum emphasized he wouldn’t make any decisions based on emotions. He noted that if asked about his participation in the 2028 Olympics, he would need time to consider it, and wouldn’t let this experience dictate his future choices.
Team USA coach Steve Kerr repeatedly stated that Tatum’s limited play was due to matchups rather than performance issues. Tatum missed both games against Serbia, where Kerr opted for a larger lineup. He often played behind LeBron James and Kevin Durant, who were on the second unit until the final game.
Kerr also rested starter Joel Embiid for a game against South Sudan and sat Derrick White during the gold medal game. Tyrese Haliburton missed three games. Despite his limited role, Tatum expressed joy in winning his second gold medal and did not want his situation to overshadow the team’s success.
However, as a three-time All-NBA player and recent NBA champion, Tatum noted he received considerable feedback from home. He appreciated the encouragement to use the experience as motivation but acknowledged the challenge of staying focused in the moment.
PARIS — The atmosphere at Bercy Arena for France’s unexpected victories over Canada and Germany this week has been electric, and the energy is expected to reach new heights for Saturday’s gold medal game against Team USA, especially with the heightened rivalry.
Joel Embiid has embraced the role of antagonist, and while he has engaged with the crowd, he expressed confusion over the hostility directed at him. Nonetheless, he plans to continue his approach, saying, “They’re going to boo me. I’m going to go back at them and tell them to ‘suck it.’ And so it’s going to be fun.”