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Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum's Olympic experience was a different one, including not playing and missing every jump shot he took. Still, Tatum said the experience was a good, despite the challenges.

"I wasn’t moping around. I didn’t have an attitude. I wasn’t angry at the world," Tatum said. "I stayed ready and did what was asked of me and I won a gold medal, right?"

Tatum also acknowledged he missed every jumper he took, but suggested that's part of not being in rhythm.

"I know I didn’t make a jump shot when I was with Team USA. I don’t know, law of averages," Tatum said. "It’s a weird rhythm thing being with Team USA; you never exactly know when you’re gonna get the ball. But that’s part of it. You sign up for that because I’ve done it before (at the Tokyo Games)."

Tatum says he hasn't lost confidence in his shot, and that he's not dealing with any kind of injury. After shooting poorly in the playoffs, the Celtics star said he's learned that sometimes things don't go as planned.

"I have two (gold medals) now, I have a championship, and everything doesn’t necessarily go the way you expect it to go, right?" Tatum said. "I’ve learned to be like, ‘OK, that’s a part of it.’ You move on, and I’m getting ready to enjoy the last little weeks I have before the season starts and get ready for another season."

Via Jared Weiss/The Athletic

Jaylen Brown is still the better player on that Boston Team. Ngl

Well said Champ. Looking for another great year ahead champ.

Roy T wrote:Jaylen Brown is still the better player on that Boston Team. Ngl

1a and 1b, whichever way you slice it. Their superpower is that they are on the same team, which happens to be one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Neither player sees 48 minutes of the best opposing defender. Neither player has to guard the best opposing scorer for 48 minutes. They elevate each other, and I think they know that.

why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

Pickled Prunes wrote:

Roy T wrote:Jaylen Brown is still the better player on that Boston Team. Ngl

1a and 1b, whichever way you slice it. Their superpower is that they are on the same team, which happens to be one of the deepest teams in the NBA. Neither player sees 48 minutes of the best opposing defender. Neither player has to guard the best opposing scorer for 48 minutes. They elevate each other, and I think they know that.

That's true. And that's Jrue. And Derrick White guarding the opposing offensive threats.

jk31 wrote:why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

Reeko wrote:

jk31 wrote:why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

1) It sounds like it wasn't a big deal to Tatum... just his mom, his fans and the media.
2) Tatum is not a top 7 player. He's very good, but if you swap him for any of the players mentioned, BOS still wins a title and IND, LAL and PHX still fall short. Basketball is a team sport; the success of Tatum's stacked NBA team has no bearing on how many minutes he gets on Team USA.

Pickled Prunes wrote:

Reeko wrote:

jk31 wrote:why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

1) It sounds like it wasn't a big deal to Tatum... just his mom, his fans and the media.
2) Tatum is not a top 7 player. He's very good, but if you swap him for any of the players mentioned, BOS still wins a title and IND, LAL and PHX still fall short. Basketball is a team sport; the success of Tatum's stacked NBA team has no bearing on how many minutes he gets on Team USA.

1) I think you're deluding yourself if you truly believe that it wasn't a big deal to Tatum. He has said all the right things in the media, but I don't buy for a second that the fact that he was relegated to bench warmer on team USA doesn't burn him up inside.

2) It's your opinion that he's not a top 7 player, not a statement of fact. Many people, whether it be fans or media, have him in their top 7.

Reeko wrote:

Pickled Prunes wrote:

Reeko wrote:It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

1) It sounds like it wasn't a big deal to Tatum... just his mom, his fans and the media.
2) Tatum is not a top 7 player. He's very good, but if you swap him for any of the players mentioned, BOS still wins a title and IND, LAL and PHX still fall short. Basketball is a team sport; the success of Tatum's stacked NBA team has no bearing on how many minutes he gets on Team USA.

1) I think you're deluding yourself if you truly believe that it wasn't a big deal to Tatum. He has said all the right things in the media, but I don't buy for a second that the fact that he was relegated to bench warmer on team USA doesn't burn him up inside.

2) It's your opinion that he's not a top 7 player, not a statement of fact. Many people, whether it be fans or media, have him in their top 7.

1) He might be saying the right thing because he believes the right thing, which is that Team USA was stacked, particularly at forward. He also couldn't put it in the ocean, so there's that. It's a team sport; he contributed when his number was called; he took home gold.

2) Many people are wrong. Happens every day.

Reeko wrote:

jk31 wrote:why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

yes and still tatum did NOTHING to deserve more Minutes at the olympics while durant and James showed much more to back up their Minutes.

Team USA needs a Laettner to prevent this scenario.

jk31 wrote:

Reeko wrote:

jk31 wrote:why is tatum Not playing such a Big Story? haliburton didnt Play neither. and tatum a) played pretty Bad when He did and b) had lebron **** James and Kevin durant in Front of him on the depth chart who both played pretty Well. So where is the Story?!

It's pretty obvious. He just won a championship. He is the only American born player to make 1st team All NBA this past season. He is generally regarded as a top 7 player ahead of the likes of James and Durant. Hali is none of those things.

yes and still tatum did NOTHING to deserve more Minutes at the olympics while durant and James showed much more to back up their Minutes.

Sure. You asked why it was a big story and I'm outlining why it was.