Tension between Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum first surfaced during the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Tatum found himself benched for much of the competition. Despite the United States winning the gold medal, Kerr's decision to bench a player of Tatum's caliber became a topic of discussion and criticism.
Many questioned whether the treatment of the young superstar was warranted, given his status as one of the NBA's elite players. Fast forward to a recent NBA matchup between the Warriors and the Celtics, and the fallout from those Olympic decisions still lingers, despite Kerr's attempt to clarify the situation. Now in a recent turn of events, a former NBA icon has joined the controversy by criticizing Kerr for his strategies.
What Kerr had to say about Jayson Tatum and the NBA legend's retaliation on it
Following a tough loss to the Celtics, Kerr addressed his relationship with Tatum, trying to dispel any lingering tension.
"We texted after the game in Boston a couple of months ago and we talked last night after the game," Kerr shared. "I will tell you that Jayson was an absolute dream to coach. During all that stuff, that so-called controversy, you might notice there wasn’t a single quote from Jayson. It was everybody else talking about it. Jayson is an amazing guy and an incredible player, and he couldn’t have handled it any better when he was there."
Kerr’s words were aimed at putting any doubts to rest and emphasizing the positive rapport between him and Tatum.
However, despite Kerr’s efforts to clear the air, the incident still resonates with many in the NBA community, including Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. In a recent exchange, Barkley offered his thoughts on the situation and did not hold back in his criticism of Kerr’s decision.
"Great player, just not good enough to play in the Olympics, but he's a great player," Barkley said. "One of the five best in the East, but not good enough to represent his country."
Barkley’s comments suggest that, in his view, Tatum’s exclusion from the Olympic rotation was a questionable call, even though Tatum remains one of the NBA’s top talents.
It seems that no matter how much time passes or how much clarity Kerr tries to provide, there will always be some lingering awkwardness between him and Tatum. For many, Tatum's benching during the Olympics, particularly with such an accomplished player, feels like an issue that can't be easily forgotten. As the Warriors continue to face challenges this season, Kerr’s relationship with Tatum remains a complicated and sensitive topic in the NBA world.