Thoughts on LeBron starting over Tatum in the Olympics? Is it unfair veteran privilege?

[Godymas]

LeBron James at almost 40 is better still than prime Jayson Tatum

let that sink in

[The Explorer]

LeBron is better than Tatum. Anyone saying different is lying. Tatum has the much better team, which allows him to win a title despite being total cheeks in the finals.

Tatum made all-nba first team and James made 3rd team. Out of a panel of 100 voters, Tatum got 65 first place votes, 34 2nd place votes and 0 3rd place votes. James received just 1 1st place vote, meaning according to you, nearly 100 people are lying about Tatum being better.

[ShootersShoot]

Honestly its pretty cool to see a nearly 40yr old bron play in the olympics. For what hes done for team usa, including helping to build the program back up when usa was having trouble recruiting top talent, three olympics and fiba..I have no problem with him starting. Bron is still playing at a very high level.

[Billl]

USA basketball made an appeal to all the vets for them to come back and lead the team to gold after a disasterous showing at the worlds. It's really not surprising that they are given a nod over the younger guys.

[Froob]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

[levon]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

This lineup will probably get some burn, but I think you need some perimeter defense and glue so it may be Holiday or Ant instead. Again, the premise of this thread is wrong because LeBron and Tatum aren't even playing the same role or position. The argument should be whether Tatum starts over KD.

[ReddoverKobe]

My thoughts are this is a non issue unless you cant go a day in your life without hating a basketball player for some reason.

[ShootersShoot]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Yea..this should be the lineup given how kerr likes to play and how the fiba style is overall.

[WarriorGM]

Any number of combinations can work and would be justifiable even if it doesn't exactly fit position.

[aj174]

It might be more of a legacy thing at this point, but it's LeBron...he's starting. And who cares anyways, they're gonna get the same minutes whether they start the game or not

[tsherkin]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Why should Tatum be starting? I don't mean to disrespect him, but given the other talent on the wing that roster features, what separates him out that he should be given a starting spot?

[Triple M]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Why should Tatum be starting? I don't mean to disrespect him, but given the other talent on the wing that roster features, what separates him out that he should be given a starting spot?

I dont think talent is what seperating the wing talent. I think you can have a tactical reason to start 8 or 9 players and 3 or 4 od them play the wing position.

KD best player on Tokyo team

LBJ can start at SF or move him into a distribution role. So he gives flexibility whether you want to play bigger or smaller

Tatum has had a longer commitment and played well in Tokyo. I think he was viewed as one of the long term team USA peices so i dont know if that factors in at some point

Kawhi can provide more defense in the starting lineup

[Repeat 3-peat]

Possibly already written. Tatum is better than LeBron but this is about fit. Tatum alongside Durant, Embiid, Curry, Holiday(or Ant) as starters simply does not have enough playmaking. It'll be a bunch of iso shot attempts. Bron helps bring balance.

This is all about winning Gold folks.

[Froob]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Why should Tatum be starting? I don't mean to disrespect him, but given the other talent on the wing that roster features, what separates him out that he should be given a starting spot?

Passing, defense, rebounding. Doesn’t need to take a ton of shots. Hes pretty cool doing dirty work.

[Revived]

USA basketball made an appeal to all the vets for them to come back and lead the team to gold after a disasterous showing at the worlds. It's really not surprising that they are given a nod over the younger guys.

I think all the vets would’ve come regardless knowing that it’s in a fancy tourist destination like Paris.

[tsherkin]

LBJ can start at SF or move him into a distribution role.

These aren't mutually exclusive, but I suppose you mean make him a "big PG" in the lineup, yeah?

Tatum has had a longer commitment and played well in Tokyo. I think he was viewed as one of the long term team USA peices so i dont know if that factors in at some point

It ought not to if superior talent is available at the moment while they're trying to win.

Kawhi can provide more defense in the starting lineup

Kawhi is both a better scorer and a better defender, so that is also a consideration.

Tatum, like Lebron, can and does also play a lot at the 4, so there is also that to consider.

Possibly already written. Tatum is better than LeBron

No he isn't.

Passing, defense, rebounding.

1/3 ain't bad? Lebron is CLEARLY a dramatically, SIGNIFICANTLY superior passer, and they're very similar rebounders. Both in that 11-12% TRB range. Defense, definitely, but I struggle to see why you thought those other two were appropriate. Especially passing.

[NZB2323]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Why should Tatum be starting? I don't mean to disrespect him, but given the other talent on the wing that roster features, what separates him out that he should be given a starting spot?

2022 Nets - Celtics:

Tatum: 30, 7, and 5, 61.6 TS%, 21.1 GmSc, won 4-0
Durant: 26, 6, and 6, 52.6 TS%, 15.3 GmSc, lost 0-4

Does Tatum throughly outplaying Durant in a playoff series count for nothing? And since then Durant has won 1 playoff series and Tatum has won 8.

And I’m not even sure how strong the teammate argument is. In 2022 Durant had Kyrie, Bruce Brown, Seth Curry, and Nic Claxton. In 2023 Durant had Booker, CP3, Ayton, and Payne. In 2024 Durant had Booker, Beal, Gordon, and Nurkic.

During that time, Durant is 6-13 in playoff games.

I think some people still think of 2021, or 2014-2019 when they think of Durant. He’s not that guy anymore.

[cupcakesnake]

Tatum should be starting for sure. Should be Tatum, LeBron, Embiid, Curry, KD.

Why should Tatum be starting? I don't mean to disrespect him, but given the other talent on the wing that roster features, what separates him out that he should be given a starting spot?

2022 Nets - Celtics:

Tatum: 30, 7, and 5, 61.6 TS%, 21.1 GmSc, won 4-0
Durant: 26, 6, and 6, 52.6 TS%, 15.3 GmSc, lost 0-4

I'm fine with Tatum starting over Durant, but this is not a good reasoning for why.
Not only is it a small sample, but Durant had to play against an elite, Boston defense where the whole gameplan was to take him out. Tatum in that series had to play against Brooklyn's 19th ranked defense. Why should we compare Durant struggling to score against Smart/J.Brown/Tatum/Horford/Time Lord/Derrick White/Grant Williams to Tatum scoring efficiently against Seth Curry/Bruce Brown/Durant/Kyrie/Claxton. Brooklyn didn't have a single wing defender taller than 6'4".

If I want more defense (or driving) in the starting lineup, I'd take Tatum. If I want to maximize shooting, I'd start Durant. Either way it's all pretty silly because USA has a huge advantage no matter what. We treat it like we're arguing all-star starters.

[Tor_Raps]

From an outsiders perspective, Team USA would be smart to start Kawhi over Tatum. KD/Curry/Lebron is a pretty horrible defensive trio at this stage of this careers.

While Tatums good, Kawhi is God like defensively if that's all he needs to focus on. It's not about putting out the 5 best players, it's about putting out the 5 best who fit together.

[Hangtime84]

FIBA Tatum was pretty bad