Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag]’s dream summer got a little better on Wednesday afternoon.
The United States men’s basketball team, with one eye on this summer’s 2024 Olympic Games, played the Serbian national team in an exhibition game. Team USA announced its starting five ahead of the competition, and Tatum got the nod as one of the first five Americans on the floor.
He joined four-time NBA champions LeBron James and Steph Curry, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and Boston Celtics teammate Jrue Holiday in the opening lineup.
Tatum would assuredly call 2023-24 the best season of his NBA career, winning his first career title while earning a third straight All-NBA First Team nomination in the process. He broke the league record for most playoff points scored before a player’s 27th birthday and led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists for their playoff run, the sixth NBA player to accomplish that feat.
Starters vs 🇷🇸 Serbia
🇺🇸 Steph Curry
🇺🇸 Jrue Holiday
🇺🇸 Jayson Tatum
🇺🇸 LeBron James
🇺🇸 Joel Embiid📺 FS1 x #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/9frfDKcsWK
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 17, 2024
Tatum already picked up a few highlights during an exhibition against Canada when he whirled past NBA finalist Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for a bucket. He’s looking for a second straight gold medal after winning one in Tokyo during the previous Olympics.