Steve Kerr benching Jayson Tatum is ’embarrasment’

Celtics legend Bob Cousy is among those who disagree with Team USA coach Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Jayson Tatum.

Tatum sat on the bench without playing a single minute during Thursday’s semifinal win against Serbia. It was the second time such a benching has occurred for Tatum during these Olympics.

Cousy told Dan Shaugnessy of The Boston Globe that he believes Kerr is going out of his way to embarrass Tatum and that someone from the Celtics should stick up for him.

“This isn’t just a snub,” Cousy said. “This is an embarrassment for that poor kid all over the [expletive] world. The Olympics have gotten that big. Everyone’s going to think that there’s something wrong this this kid.”

There’s a difference between not playing much and not playing at all, Cousy said.

“When Kerr did it last week, he was in no danger of losing the game, but in this case they got down by 17 points and he’s got to worry about losing the game,” Cousy said. “And then to not let Tatum get off the bench — to me, there’s got to be some kind of bias that he’s got against the Celtics. He’s not alone there.”

Cousy said benching Tatum, who was a first-team All-NBA selection this past season, is a move that doesn’t make much sense.

“Not playing Tatum at all says to the world, ‘Not only is he not top five, he’s not good enough to get into a close game.’” Cousy said. “I can’t figure out Kerr’s thinking, and he’s done it twice, so he obviously feels strongly about it.

“He must think Tatum is a detriment, and I don’t see how he can feel that way and know anything about basketball.”

Team USA won both of the games Tatum was benched and will take on France in the championship round on Saturday.