Steve Kerr should be in ‘Psych Ward’ for giving Jayson Tatum ZERO minutes, claims ex-NBA player

Gilbert Arenas and Kenyon Martin criticized Steve Kerr's decision to bench Jayson Tatum, with Martin suggesting Kerr needs a 'psych ward'.

Steve Kerr should be in ‘Psych Ward’ for giving Jayson Tatum ZERO minutes, claims ex-NBA player

Jayson Tatum and Steve Kerr

Steve Kerr, the head coach of Team USA men’s basketball, is facing criticism for his roster-related decisions, particularly his choice to give Jayson Tatum zero minutes in the game against Serbia. Gilbert Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star, has spoken out against Kerr’s coaching staff, calling them the “worst aspect” of Team USA.

Gilbert Arenas argued that Kerr’s decisions would not be tolerated in the NBA, citing the example of Jimmy Butler being brought off the bench. Kenyon Martin, another member of Arenas’ podcast crew, took it a step further, suggesting that Kerr should be admitted to a “psych ward” for not playing Tatum.

If it was announced that Jayson Tatum might not play, they should have had him f**king admitted to a f**king psych ward.
Kenton Martin said on the Gil’s Arena Show

Jayson Tatum himself has taken the high road, saying that the experience is “humbling” and emphasizing that the team’s success is more important than individual accolades. However, Martin believes that there must be something wrong with Kerr’s game plan if it doesn’t include Tatum, who has just come off a championship win and been named the NBA 2K25 cover athlete.

Jayson Tatum’s benchings spark fire, Celtics teammate Payton Pritchard expects big response

Jayson Tatum’s impressive NBA season and Olympic gold medal win were followed by a surprising benching at the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, he bounced back with a strong performance against Puerto Rico, registering a double-double with ten points, ten rebounds, three assists, and two steals.

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Celtics teammate Payton Pritchard, who has experienced his own share of adversity, is excited to see how Tatum responds to the challenge. Pritchard believes that the benching will add fuel to Tatum’s fire and motivate him to prove doubters wrong next season.

I actually wanted to text him 'cause I've been in situations like that. And I'm not saying it's at all to his level, but it's a humbling experience. And so, for me, I'm excited to see what he does with that. That just adds more fuel to the fire.
Payton Pritchard said on the Point Forward Podcast

Pritchard expects Tatum to use the experience as a learning curve and come back stronger, leading the Celtics in their quest to defend their NBA title and win another championship. With Tatum’s talent and determination, Pritchard is confident that he will rise to the occasion and prove his doubters wrong.

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