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

[lambchop]

Tatum is clearly better than current Lebron. This isn’t even an argument

This is not the point. The gap in performance between Tatum and the first opponent coming off the bench is wider than Tatum starting against the opposing team's starters. In addition, LeBron has a better skillset to benefit the starters earlier in the game than Tatum.

This isn't a my guy vs your guy thing. It's purely strategic.

I doubt it’s strategic. The gap in performance between Lebron and the first opponent off the bench is still a huuuuuuuuge margin. It’s more optics than anything.

Tatum has been the 2nd best American player behind Embiid the last 2 seasons. It should be Embiid, Tatum, Curry and everyone else can fall in line after that.

It's simply the way team USA treats its vets. They did the same thing with Carmelo in 2016. USA basketball won't forget that Melo and Bron were the guys who were available since 2004, despite playing limited minutes on a dysfunctional team, and never thought that playing for team USA wasn't "cool". There was never any convincing needed. Melo was a spot up shooter for them (something he refused to do in the NBA), bron was primarily a defender on that 2008 team.

People can argue about strategy. Imo it's definitely debatable what's best for the team. But this looks way more like a deserved reward to me.

[CodeBreaker]

There are 5 players in this roster that are better than Tatum

[AussieCeltic]

There are 5 players in this roster that are better than Tatum

You’re in every thread **** on Tatum.

Must’ve been hard for you watch him lift the Larry O a month ago while your boy Jimmy sits on the sideline making coffees.

[pipfan]

As we all know LeBron is starting over recent NBA champion Jayson Tatum. At this stage in their careers Tatum is likely better than LeBron. This comes shortly after we saw the nepotism that got Bronny drafted. Quite frankly, that nepotism made me completely sick to my stomach, and my thoughts are with the potential draftee that didn't get drafted because of Bronny.

Is this a display of veterans privilege? LeBron has the resume, but Tatum is better right now. How is this AT ALL fair?

I really wonder-do you care if this is "fair" to Tatum? I know this is coming off like me being a jerk, but how can you actually care if Tatum is being treated "fairly" if he has to come off the bench behind a top 3 player of all time who's still at least an All Star? This isn't Willie Mays stumbling around centerfield for the Mets-LBJ is still a great player (and I'm one of the biggest sports-haters of LBJ ever on these boards). But, does it actually bother you if Tatum is being treated "unfairly"?

[Fencer reregistered]

Tatum's still on a championship high, and also potentially tired.

The guys who flamed out early in the playoffs may actually be sharper.

[KyRo23]

People are calling Tatum overrated but watch LeBron barely get back on defence. It’s 2024, Bron isn’t Bron anymore.

So you shoot back with a wild claim of your own? LeBron is still LeBron and is still able to play solid defense when it matters.

This is international play with some of the best players in the world on your team. I expect some solid spurts of Bron defense as he won't have to carry the offense. The dude just averaged 28/7/9 against the defending champs on 57%/39%

[Big_Aristotle]

Tatum is not even the best player on his team? If I remember well, Jaylen Brown got the Finals MVP.
So with that said, why is this even a discussion?

And I also think it's a matter of balance. Lebron is a better playmaker/passer.

[Context]

Tatum is clearly better than current Lebron. This isn’t even an argument

Stats would disagree:
https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&seasons_type=perchoice&player_id1=jamesle01&p1yrfrom=2024&p1yrto=2024&player_id2=tatumja01&p2yrfrom=2024&p2yrto=2024
Tatum:
74
26.9
8.1
4.9
1.0
0.6
.471
.376
.833
55.154
5.1
4.7
G
PTS/G
TRB/G
AST/G
STL/G
BLK/G
FG%
3P%
FT%
eFG%
BPM
VORP

BRON:
71
25.7
7.3
8.3
1.3
0.5
.540
.410
.750
59.850
6.5
5.4

[Message Boar]

Kind of weird to hear so many people think LeBron is a better player than Tatum right now when Tatum leads him like 90 to 17 in the #6 player in the NBA poll on this very board. That being said, I think it's a mix of veteran privilege/seniority, better fit, and more experience at playing FIBA rules basketball.

Personally I think Tatum is a better player for an NBA season/title run, but it's close enough that under these circumstances I don't think this is a big deal.

[nikster]

I doubt it’s strategic. The gap in performance between Lebron and the first opponent off the bench is still a huuuuuuuuge margin. It’s more optics than anything.

Tatum has been the 2nd best American player behind Embiid the last 2 seasons. It should be Embiid, Tatum, Curry and everyone else can fall in line after that.

Tatum is a shooter, a killer, and not a distributor. Do you think that bodes better for the starting lineup to set the tone than a natural passer?

He averaged 7 assists in the NBA finals including 12 in game 2 and 11 in game 5. I’d say he’s a pretty good playmaker these days.

He’s also by far the better defender at this stage in their careers.

Wouldn’t it be better for James to play off the bench AD given they’ve played together for 5 seasons?

And has never averaged more than 5 assists in a season. He might be a better player but he is nowhere near the floor general Lebron is. If you prefer playmaking in the starting line up Lebron is the clear choice.

[LakersLegacy]

I think only 4 starters were named

Bron, Curry, KD and Embiid

5th starter could be Kawhi, Tatum or Ant
Maybe even Jrue or AD for defense

Durant over defensive MVP of team USA Davis is wrong, Durant is missing practice

[kenwood3333]

LeBron is their best floor general on the roster, so naturally he starts over Jrue and Hali. Tatum is not a PG.

[CBS7]

Kind of weird to hear so many people think LeBron is a better player than Tatum right now when Tatum leads him like 90 to 17 in the #6 player in the NBA poll on this very board. That being said, I think it's a mix of veteran privilege/seniority, better fit, and more experience at playing FIBA rules basketball.

Personally I think Tatum is a better player for an NBA season/title run, but it's close enough that under these circumstances I don't think this is a big deal.

LeBron clearly past his prime and on the downswing of his career. For an entire season I imagine most would take Tatum.
But context matters. I think I'd take LeBron for a single series or for an Olympic games where he likely doesn't have to play more than 25 minutes a game and has tons of help.

[mowcrowbar]

Dumbest **** thing I've read all week.

[Saints14]

Kind of weird to hear so many people think LeBron is a better player than Tatum right now when Tatum leads him like 90 to 17 in the #6 player in the NBA poll on this very board. That being said, I think it's a mix of veteran privilege/seniority, better fit, and more experience at playing FIBA rules basketball.

Personally I think Tatum is a better player for an NBA season/title run, but it's close enough that under these circumstances I don't think this is a big deal.

I'd rather have Tatum for the full season because of durability and stamina, but in a single game or a tournament I'm still taking Bron

[Lockdown504090]

Kind of weird to hear so many people think LeBron is a better player than Tatum right now when Tatum leads him like 90 to 17 in the #6 player in the NBA poll on this very board. That being said, I think it's a mix of veteran privilege/seniority, better fit, and more experience at playing FIBA rules basketball.

Personally I think Tatum is a better player for an NBA season/title run, but it's close enough that under these circumstances I don't think this is a big deal.

I'd rather have Tatum for the full season because of durability and stamina, but in a single game or a tournament I'm still taking Bron

I know it’s an outlier, but lebron player 3 less games than Tatum and Tatum has been worn down/injured in his last 2 playoff runs and underperformed.

[_jin]

Tatum is the better player but Lebron is the better fit. Like most SF in today's NBA they play the 4 and that's where they'll play with Team USA but in FIBA most teams play a traditional PF instead of a shooting forward. While Tatum is stronger than most people give him credit for, he's still not as strong as Lebron. And with no creative PG outside of Hali who will probably not play much, Lebron will have to handle a lot of playmaking duties, Tatum can't provide that.

[EmpireFalls]

Just for reference: the thoughts of people actually at the camp.

Read on Twitter

?s=46

But yeah, RealGM geniuses are right, LeBron sucks

[dockingsched]

Tatum isn’t competing with Lebron, he’s competing with KD. And in either cause he’s Tatum isn’t good enough for him coming off the bench to be an issue.

[eyeatoma]

Tatum is better than Lebron in 2024. You’ll see it in nearly every ranking list included the realgm one currently who is ranked higher. Lebron’s defense is mid and is a problem. He looked bad during the recent scrimmage game on that end. Hes getting the start because his name is Lebron.

Spoken like a true Celtics fan. But no LeBron is still better. All Tatum does is jack up 3s.

Sent from my SM-S928B using Tapatalk