House doesn't think Kerr hasn't been able to fit Tatum into the Olympic rotation

House doesn't think Kerr Tatum couldn't fit into the Olympic rotation. Originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Eddie House doesn't believe Steve Kerr's claim that he couldn't fit Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum into his rotation at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Kerr recently said that his currently undefeated Warriors team is “as strong as any team I've ever coached,” which angered House because he believes Golden State has had better teams in the past and Team USA's squad in the was full last summer.

On Saturday's edition of NBC Sports Boston's “Celtics Pregame Live,” House criticized Kerr for Tatum's lack of international opportunities.

“I don’t believe (Kerr) at all,” House said. “You have to remember in 2016-17 (the Warriors) had Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Steph Curry, Shaun Livingston and Andre Iguodala; We could go on and on and on and on. This was probably the deepest Warriors team he has ever coached. The year before, they won 73 games…and they got a little deeper when they got KD.

“So when I hear (Kerr) say that (he couldn’t find Olympic minutes for Tatum), I can’t believe him.”

Tatum averaged 17.7 minutes per Olympic game and endured two DNPs-CDs. House argued that Kerr's experience leading Warriors teams with multiple Hall of Famers should have helped the coach find more time for Tatum.

Kerr was criticized during the summer trials for his erratic rotation and what some viewed as favoritism, negligence or incompetence. However, at the end of the day, the Americans took gold, meaning Kerr got the job done.

This fact isn't enough for House. The 2008 NBA champion with Boston doesn't understand why Kerr can find time to play someone he considers Golden State's last reserve player while Tatum, who helped the Celtics to a 2024 Finals victory, couldn't longer leash.

“I definitely don't think so,” House repeated. “And besides, he’s from the Olympics. He has just coached the best players from the United States of America. And you're saying you can go deep with (the Warriors) but not with this team? It's not even 12 deep; They can't go eight or nine deep to use Jayson Tatum?

“I don’t know what Steve Kerr is saying. I like what he does (with Golden State) and I like his attitude and the way he practices. And by the way, don’t lie to me, man.”

Kerr probably hasn't lost any sleep over his treatment of Tatum. What's done is done, and it could have been worse for Tatum.

He spent a summer in Paris with other NBA stars and two Celtics teammates – Jrue Holiday and Derrick White – and won his first gold medal just weeks after his first ring.

It seems House only wants the best for Tatum. And fortunately for the 26-year-old winger, he should gain Olympic experience later on.

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