"More like a slap in the face" - Paul Pierce claims 'Celtic hate' influenced Steve Kerr to bench Jayson Tatum vs Serbia

It has been a few days since Steve Kerr benched Jayson Tatum against Serbia in Team USA’s opening game of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Sunday. He, however, continues to draw criticism for the move. Boston Celtics legend Paul Pierce, who led the team to a title in 2008, voiced his disapproval with Kerr’s decision.

Pierce spoke to long-time analyst Skip Bayless and Keyshawn Johnson on Friday’s episode of Undisputed. The Celtics legend said:

“I don't think this was humbling. This was more like a slap in the face. … After the game, Kerr was like, … he felt bad. You feel like an idiot. And then, you try to sit Embiid the next game, to kind of justify it, like, ‘Look, I sat the MVP.’ Naah, that ain’t what this was. … Just Celtic hate, good old Celtic hate. That’s all it’s ever been.”

When Johnson pointed out to Pierce that fellow Celtics teammates Jrue Holiday and Derrick White were getting regular minutes, The Truth said:

“I mean when you are the guy for the Celtics, there’s a lot of hate. … I know from first-hand experience. … Jaylen Brown, he can’t even get in. He can’t even get on the team, Finals MVP. But think about this, there’s no team on planet Earth that Jayson Tatum shouldn’t get minutes on.”

There’s no doubt that Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Tatum rubbed many people the wrong way, including former Golden State Warriors forward Matt Barnes. It’s no surprise that a Boston legend such as Paul Pierce took offense with the decision as well.

Tatum, however, started the next game against South Sudan on Wednesday. Team USA won 103-86, as Tatum contributed four points, five rebounds and two assists.

Despite Paul Pierce’s assertion, Jayson Tatum’s benching likely wasn’t 'Celtic hate'

Even though Paul Pierce might firmly believe that Jayson Tatum’s benching was a clear cut case of Celtic hate, that likely wasn’t the case. Steve Kerr spoke to The Athletic about the decision on Monday. He said:

“I’m not going to answer your next question, which is if he plays, who doesn’t, but we’re going to need him and part of this job for me is to keep everybody engaged and ready because my experience with this is crazy stuff happens. …

"The hardest part of this job is you’re sitting at least a couple of guys who are world-class, some of the very best players on Earth, and on the one hand it makes no sense at all.”

The decision to not play Jayson Tatum must have been a tough one on Kerr as well, but it was something he had to do keeping in mind the matchup. The 2024 Paris Olympics are far from over and Kerr could be forced to make even tougher decisions. While criticism will likely follow, the coach must be satisfied as long as he can lead the Americans to a first-place finish.