Kerr Has No Regrets About Olympic Gold Medal Game Decision

The Boston Celtics squared off against the Golden State Warriors at their iconic TD Garden on Wednesday night. This game carried a bit more buzz than your typical mid-season matchup.

It was Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s first time back in Boston since his successful stint with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics. Though the American squad brought home the gold from Paris, Kerr’s Olympic roster choices raised some eyebrows, particularly among Celtics fans, due to the sparing use of Boston’s star, Jayson Tatum.

Despite securing another prestigious medal for the U.S., Celtics supporters haven’t exactly let bygones be bygones. For them, this game has long been marked as a chance to make their sentiments known.

Prior to tip-off, Kerr was candid about his Olympic strategy, standing by his decisions despite any lingering discontent. “We can’t control the narrative,” Kerr stated.

“The NBA is a huge platform where stories take on a life of their own. But in Vegas, from the first day of training camp, our mission was crystal clear – we’re in this to win together, irrespective of individual playtime.”

The truth is, Olympic coaching often involves tough rotational calls, especially when your roster boasts talent like LeBron James and Kevin Durant playing in the same position as Tatum. Even if Tatum’s shot was off its usual mark, squeezing in minutes was a challenge.

Kerr reflected on this by acknowledging the difficulty of decisions like benching Tatum against Serbia or sidelining Joel Embiid against South Sudan. “These aren’t enjoyable decisions,” Kerr admitted, but he stressed the collective commitment of his squad to bring home gold.

Kerr’s reflection extended beyond the court as he considered his reception by the Boston faithful. When asked if he expected some vocal displeasure from the crowd, his humor came through: “I doubt folks care enough to boo me,” he quipped.

“But if they do, it’s all a testament to the passion of the fans. I also hope they remember the joy of having three of their own – Tatum, Jrue Holiday, and Derrick White – win gold for their country.”

True to Kerr’s musings, the fans met him with a chorus of boos that night. Despite the mixed reception, the backdrop to the night was a celebration of basketball’s global allure and the enduring dedication of players and coaches to the game.