Jayson Tatum's mother publicly criticizes Steve Kerr: "It is unacceptable and makes no sense"

The United States basketball team achieved a crucial victory in the semifinals of the Olympic Games in Paris, defeating Serbia with a score of 95-91. However, not everyone involved was in a celebratory mood after the game. Brandy Cole, mother of the standout player Jayson Tatum, publicly expressed her discontent through social media over coach Steve Kerr's decision to keep her son on the bench throughout the match.

The controversy arose after Cole replied to a tweet from ESPN commentator Dick Vitale, who was also surprised by the lack of playing time for Tatum, a player who has been selected to the All-NBA First Team for three consecutive years. Vitale wondered in his tweet if Tatum was injured, given his limited playing time in the Olympic tournament. To this, Cole categorically replied, "He is not injured, but if you figure out what's going on, please let me know. It's unacceptable and makes no sense."

Cole's frustration did not end there. She also shared a message from Dan Greenberg of Barstool Sports, who strongly criticized Kerr's decision, suggesting that if the coach truly believed Tatum couldn't help the team, then he should not lead Team USA in future tournaments.

In response to the criticisms, Steve Kerr explained that the decision to reduce Tatum's playing time had nothing to do with his performance but with the need to find the best combination of players on the court. According to Kerr, Kevin Durant's inclusion in the team after recovering from an injury influenced the rotation, complicating the distribution of minutes among all the high-caliber players. "It's just a math problem," Kerr commented, referring to the challenge of managing a team with so much talent.

Kerr's Words on Tatum

Despite Kerr's tactical decisions, he acknowledged Tatum's talent and the importance of his professionalism. "Jayson is a champion and has handled this situation incredibly professionally. I'm sure he will be ready for the next game," added the coach.

Tatum, who won a championship with the Boston Celtics in June and already has an Olympic gold medal in his resume, has had a modest performance in the Paris Games, averaging 6.3 points, six rebounds, and three assists in the other three games he has played.

The outcome of this conflict and Tatum's performance will be closely watched when Team USA faces France in the gold medal final next Saturday. The expectation is high as the American team aims for its fifth consecutive gold medal in Olympic basketball.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La madre de Jayson Tatum critica públicamente a Steve Kerr: "Es inaceptable y no tiene ningún sentido"