Despite the 26-point win in their Olympics opener against Serbia, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr made some interesting choices. Kerr responded to Brian Windhorst asking about Jayson Tatum, who didn’t play in Team USA’s first game. Kerr noted that Tatum handled the disappointment well, and he does intend to use the NBA champion in later games during the tournament.

“It’s tough but Jayson [Tatum] handled it well. I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin [Durant] coming back and the lineups I wanted to get to. But that will change, Jayson is going to play.”

“Every game is going to be different, based on match-ups, he’s a total pro, first-team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him but in a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10, you really can’t. I think he’s an amazing guy, a great player, and handled it beautifully, and he’ll be back out there next game.”

There had been some speculation that Tatum was unwell heading into the game, which the player himself refuted. It is odd that Tatum, who as Kerr mentioned has been a regular All-NBA player and is coming off an NBA championship win, didn’t get any minutes in the dominant win.

Tatum’s Celtics teammates Jrue Holiday and Derrick White got significant minutes, with Jrue playing 24 minutes as a starter, and White contributing 16 minutes coming off the bench.

But given how Team USA’s forwards performed, it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that Kerr opted to avoid upsetting too many guys. With another incredible performance while wearing a Team USA jersey, LeBron James finished with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, and a steal.

Following injury worries, Kevin Durant returned to the team and contributed 23 points and 2 rebounds off the bench. KD scored 21 points just in the first half. Starting small forward Devin Booker also performed admirably, finishing with 12 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals.