The United States men’s basketball team concludes pool play at the 2024 Olympic Games on Saturday against Puerto Rico.
Ahead of the game, the team announced through social media that former Blue Devil [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag] would make the starting lineup.
Tatum, who recently won his first NBA championship with the Boston Celtics, notably did not play in Team USA’s first game against Serbia. Social media questioned the decision, citing the Duke legend’s credentials at the age of 26, but coach Steve Kerr insisted he’d include Tatum later on in the Olympics.
In the Americans’ second game in Paris, Tatum scored four points and came away with five rebounds in a victory over South Sudan.
Tatum also won a battle of the Blue Devils in that game. Incoming Duke basketball star [autotag]Khaman Maluach[/autotag], a five-star 7-footer and a member of Jon Scheyer’s esteemed 2024 recruiting class, made the South Sudan Olympic roster, but he only played two minutes against Team USA.
🇺🇸 #USABMNT Starting 🖐️ vs 🇵🇷 Puerto Rico
📺 NBC + Peacock#Paris2024 #Basketball pic.twitter.com/jZmNtRNrko
— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) August 3, 2024
NBA legends LeBron James and Steph Curry, former NBA MVP Joel Embiid, and Devin Booker started alongside Tatum.