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Playing for Team USA in Olympics ‘really a dream come true’ for Boston’s Jayson Tatum

justin quinn
·3 min read

Boston Celtics star forward Jayson Tatum spoke with Boston Globe reporter Gary Washburn at length while in Las Vegas, Nevada training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Team USA, and playing exhibition games against some of the national teams USA Basketball will be competing with for the Gold.

The nascent superstar still sounded a little star-struck at times in the conversation, but also shared some interesting perspectives on the honor of playing for the U.S. National Team in one of sport’s most prestigious competitions. The Duke product sounded quite excited to be part of the team at times, almost gushing with excitement.

“It’s really a dream come true,” explained Tatum

"I just have to remind myself sometimes in practice when I look around, I've got [Damian Lillard] bringing the ball up and running the floor with [Kevin Durant] and me on the same court," said the Celtics star. "[I'm] in the moment and enjoying it but still realizing it’s a really, really cool experience." https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1416759682643935237?s=20

Tatum missed out on much of the action the last time Team USA convened with a sprained ankle, so this go-round has a bit of extra meaning for him.

"Not being able to play [in 2019's FIBA World Cup] and watching it was tough. Watching your teammates play out there and not being able to help. Kind of the reason I really wanted to play this time is to try to get that revenge."

The St. Louis native attributes at least some of the woes of Team USA in exhibition games to the difficulties of adapting to the international game. https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1416804984901996553?s=20

"It’s a lot of differences," Tatum said of how FIBA rules have been something of an issue for Team USA, at least as far as remembering them in the thick of the action goes.

"Players can’t call timeouts. You can smack the ball off the rim. The ball is different. You can sit in the paint all day. There’s less possessions because there’s less minutes in a game. There’s things in the heat of the game that you have to remind yourself."

"We’ve all just got to help each other and talk," he continued. https://twitter.com/TheCelticsWire/status/1416807694741262338?s=20

As much as Tatum is enjoying this once-in-a-lifetime (though, perhaps not for him) opportunity to represent his country abroad, that he has to do it sans family weighs on him just the same. "That’s the toughest part, going to the Olympics for the first time and not being able to enjoy that experience with your family," he suggested. "[...] Moments like these you’re supposed to be able to share with the people you’re closest with." This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook! [lawrence-related id=54172,54166,54164,54160] [listicle id=54180]

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