Jayson Tatum has shared his challenging experience at the Olympics, where he received two DNPs throughout the tournament and played only 11 minutes in the gold medal match against France.
Tatum mentioned that his limited playing time will not impact his decision on participating in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
“It was a difficult personal experience on the court, but I am not going to rush into any decisions based on emotions,” Tatum stated. “If you were to ask me right now about the 2028 Olympics – which is four years away – I would need time to reflect on it. So, my decision will not be influenced by my recent experience or individual feelings.”
Tatum also revealed that many people had reached out to him regarding his restricted role.
“I received a lot of texts and messages from people urging me to use this experience as motivation, and I appreciate that. I have a lot of support from those who care about me,” Tatum shared. “It is tough because, yes, you can use such experiences as motivation, but I am also human.
“…In the moment, I have devoted a lot to this game, working extremely hard. So, at that moment, it is challenging. I am not necessarily thinking about being fueled for the upcoming season, but, as I mentioned, I will take away lessons and learn from this experience. It has been a difficult and humbling experience at the same time.”
Team USA coach Steve Kerr previously explained that the decision to limit Tatum’s playing time was based on matchups, not performance.
During the Olympics, Tatum averaged 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. He shot 38.1 percent from the field and missed all four of his three-point attempts.
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