Shane Heal: USA’s ‘dirty’ Olympics dilemma, wild new basketball reality is here

An American star would be “dirty” with his treatment at the Olympics, while the basketball world is facing a wild new reality, writes Shane Heal.

LeBron James and Jayson Tatum.

COMMENT

Even in a team of superstars “role players” can shine. It’s a reality the USA basketball team needs to accept.

Team USA is by far the most-talented team at the Olympics, and I struggle to see how any team will seriously compete with them for the gold medal.

Their head coach Steve Kerr has come under fire from fans around the world for not playing the Boston Celtics’ best player and newly crowned NBA champion, Jayson Tatum.

DNP-CD (Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision) is something I saw regularly next to my name in the NBA but I reckon Tatum would be filthy to read this alongside his name - especially as part of the national team, at an Olympics.

Tatum is a bonafide star in the best league in the world, and while publicly I’m sure he will toe the company line - “I’m all good and it’s part of the role and bigger picture to win gold” - there’s no doubt that privately he would be a little embarrassed and shocked to not even hit the floor.

Make no mistake, in the NBA even the nicest guys have massive egos, and for someone who just signed a five-year deal worth $470m Aussie dollars, he would be a bit dirty.

Jayson Tatum is an NBA champ but he’s riding the pine for Team USA. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

There was already some controversy with selections after Kawhi Leonard was ruled out during preparations due to injury and Boston star Jaylen Brown was overlooked - the spot instead given to teammate Derrick White.

Brown insinuated he was left out because he wasn’t a Nike athlete as he believed he deserved that spot.

I actually think the USA made the right decision taking a role player in White over Brown. Someone that is a glue guy and genuine role player among a team of superstars.

Kerr said he felt like an idiot after not playing Tatum – a statement that most people probably agreed with. I can only imagine Tatum sitting on the bench watching White play ahead of him after coming in late as a replacement.

How does that even happen? Now I’m not saying Tatum should be playing ahead of LeBron James, or Kevin Durant, but the USA team has so much flexibility and mobility to play the best players, even if they aren’t playing the exact position they normally would.

Kerr’s toughest job is managing minutes and egos, not always in that order, and I agree with him that it’s difficult to play more than 10 players in the 40 minute FIBA rules.

He will have to make more tough decisions moving forward, but I’d be surprised if Tatum isn’t part of the regular rotation for the rest of the Games.

You just can’t have an NBA superstar, max player and NBA champion give up his off-season to sit on the bench all game.

Who is the best basketball player in the world right now?

I’m often asked who I think the best player in the world is right now, and I don’t have an American near the top of my list.

With Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Luka Doncic (Slovenia), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) all dominating the NBA and FIBA tournaments for their countries, these are truly the global superstars of our sport.

Add Victor Wembanyama (France) to that list and we might not have an American as the best player in the world for the next 10+ years! While that may not be something US fans want to hear, it’s continuing to strengthen the passion for basketball outside of America.

All that being said, I believe the USA picked the right team. In some Olympics they haven’t necessarily picked the best team for the international game. They had weaknesses and lost.

The 2004 team had superstars like Allen Iverson and Stephon Marbury, and young players who would become all-time greats such as Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Tim Duncan, and they didn’t get the job done.

That team didn’t have legitimate 3-point shooters to spread the floor, and players had great difficulty adjusting to FIBA rules and appreciating that the international game is different.

Kobe and the 2008 version of Team USA made amends, but it’s no longer an automatic that Team USA will stand atop the dais at the end of the Games.

Team USA has to balance stars and role players. (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP)

But this US Olympic team has it all. Size, athleticism and some serious shooting.

We saw Kevin Durant make 5/5 from 3 point range in the opening game. Steph Curry will go off soon, and then they have guys like Devin Booker who is waiting patiently for their night to shine.

They also have star role players who love to defend like Jrue Holiday. He is comfortable doing the dirty work required to shut someone down, and can create and score when needed. They have very few weaknesses, if any.

I’m not saying they can’t be beaten. But I am saying they won’t be beaten in 2024.

– Shane Heal is a four-time Olympic basketball star for the Boomers, including captaining the 2004 Athens Olympic team. He is writing exclusively for news.com.au during the Paris Olympics.

Originally published as Shane Heal: USA’s ‘dirty’ Olympics dilemma, wild new basketball reality is here