Jayson Tatum’s parents express frustration with Olympic basketball rotation

After Jayson Tatum rode the Olympic bench for the second time in five games on Thursday, his parents took their frustrations to social media

The United States men’s basketball team might have reached the gold medal game at the 2024 Olympic Games, but the run has not come without its controversy.

Former Duke basketball star [autotag]Jayson Tatum[/autotag], fresh off his first NBA title and third consecutive All-NBA First Team nomination with the Boston Celtics, didn’t play a single minute against Serbia in the semifinals. Team USA trailed by more than a dozen points at the start of the fourth quarter, needing a miraculous comeback to defeat the Serbians.

The United States played Serbia in the first game of pool play during this summer’s Olympics, and Tatum didn’t play in that game either. After the Americans clinched victory, Tatum’s parents took to social media to voice their confusion and frustration.

With fans questioning whether Tatum was dealing with an injury, his mother, Brandy Cole-Barnes, shut that rumor down.

“No he not,” she wrote on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. “But if you find out what’s going on please let me know – unacceptable and makes NO SENSE.”

Steve Kerr, the American head coach, explained after the semifinal game that Tatum’s absence had nothing to do with the Boston star’s play. Tatum’s father, Justin Tatum, didn’t care for the message.

“Man please,” Justin wrote on X. “Miss me with that BS!!”

Tatum could become the fourth NBA player in history to make the All-NBA First Team, win an NBA title, and win an Olympic gold medal in the same summer.