UWGB HC Doug Gottlieb labels Stephen A. Smith a 'scrub' in heated debate over Jayson Tatum’s Olympic minutes

Doug Gottlieb called ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith a "scrub" after the latter used the same word for Team USA coach Steve Kerr. Smith was highly critical of Kerr for benching Jayson Tatum against Serbia on Sunday.

The USA won the game 110-84. After Smith's criticism of Kerr's decision, Gottlieb took to X and questioned the credentials of the former as a player.

“Well, Stephen A was a scrub so maybe he would want to go in the last 5 min … but at this level, you don’t put Tatum in at SAS time. I’ve actually coached FIBA hoops w/12 guys that can play, could only get 10 in real games… and scrub time would just piss everyone off,” Gottlieb wrote.

Earlier, after many had expressed displeasure over Tatum and Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton not getting time to play, Stephen A. Smith was aghast:

"The reigning, defending NBA champion Jayson Tatum. And you can't find minutes?" Smith asked. "In a 26-point lopsided victory, you can't find one minute."

"Steve Kerr, that's some straight bulls**t. You gotta be kidding me. And to have him go through an entire NBA season and then go through the playoffs and capture a championship and still take time in his offseason to join Team USA and to have a champion riding the bench, like he's some d**n waterboy. You've got to be kidding me," Smith added.

Stephen A. Smith played basketball for Winston-Salem State in Division II. He averaged 1.5 points in his college basketball career.

His average has raised eyebrows in the past too. Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley have also called out the ESPN analyst for his credentials as a player.

Gottlieb's statistics paint a better picture of him as a player. In his four-year college basketball career with Notre Dame and Oklahoma State, Gottlieb averaged 5.1 points and 7.6 assists.

Steve Kerr felt like an 'idiot' for benching Jayson Tatum

After finding himself at the center of the storm Steve Kerr praised Jayson Tatum and shared that he 'handled it beautifully.'

“[Jayson Tatum] handled it well," Kerr said. "I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin [Durant] coming back … I felt like an idiot not playing him … [In] a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10.

"You really can’t. I think he’s an amazing guy. Great player. And handled it beautifully. You know, he’ll be back out there next game.”

Even though Tatum didn't play, Kevin Durant and Lebron James did enough to bring smiles to the faces of the fans. Both combined to add 44 points for their team. The USA will face South Sudan next on Wednesday.

What do you think about Gottlieb's reaction to the comments of Stephen A. Smith? Let us know in the comments.