In a somewhat unintended jab, Steve Kerr’s opening night rotation for the Golden State Warriors appeared to shine a light on Jayson Tatum’s lack of playing time during the Olympics. When Kerr played a deep 12-man rotation in the Warriors’ season opener against the Portland Trail Blazers, the contrast with Team USA’s restricted rotations was striking. For Tatum, who notably saw limited minutes in key Olympic games, Kerr’s approach in the Warriors’ 139-104 win may have come across as a reminder of his previous snubs.
During the Paris Olympics, where Team USA went on to win gold, Kerr faced scrutiny over his distribution of playing time, particularly from fans who were disappointed by Tatum’s limited minutes. Tatum, left on the bench for both games against Serbia, got minimal playtime in the quarterfinals and only 11 minutes in the gold-medal game. Although Tatum later stated that he didn’t take the limited playtime too personally, many speculate he’s using it as fuel for the new NBA season. His 37-point debut performance in Boston’s season opener only fueled this narrative, as he shot an impressive 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.
Totally different situations and FIBA has shorter games, but Kerr going with a 12-man rotation right after the whole Jayson Tatum thing in the Olympics is kinda hilarious. https://t.co/F8KAH3NEHY
— Steve Berman (@BASportsGuy) October 24, 2024
In stark contrast to his Olympic rotations, Kerr subbed in his 12th man by the second quarter against the Blazers, with each player logging at least 14 minutes. This NBA season, Kerr has time to explore his roster over 82 games, unlike the fast-paced, high-stakes Olympic campaign with only limited game time under FIBA’s shorter format. While Kerr did note that balancing minutes among 12 superstars would be a challenge, he had communicated this philosophy early on to manage his players’ expectations.
After the Warriors’ win, Kerr confirmed that rotating all 12 players is his goal this season, emphasizing a team-focused mindset. “Some nights are their night, some nights not,” he commented, adding that cohesion and effort remain key. Yet, Kerr admitted he initially aimed for a 10-man rotation but felt he couldn’t justify benching two players.
The irony wasn’t lost on fans, as some found humor in Kerr’s apparent reluctance to bench players like Moses Moody but seemed unfazed when benching a star like Tatum on the Olympic stage. Now, as both Kerr and Tatum move into their respective NBA seasons, Tatum’s impressive opening night and Kerr’s rotation approach add an intriguing layer to their dynamic since Paris.
