Will Jayson Tatum play for Team USA against France in the Paris 2024 final?

Jayson Tatum’s game time - of lack thereof - has been one of the main talking points of Team USA’s run to the final of the men’s basketball tournament at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, where they will take on host nation France on Saturday (3:30pm ET).

The forward was arguably the stand-out player for the Boston Celtics as they romped to the 2024 NBA Championship but has played a peripheral role in the Olympics.

Tatum joined up with the team late because of an excused absence, but looked set to be an important part of the roster after featuring in the warm-up games ahead of the tournament. However, he was left off the rotation for the Olympic group opener against Serbia, and again for the semifinal against the same opponent on Thursday.

Kerr criticised by Cousy and Tatum’s mother

Team USA head coach Steve Kerr has received plenty of criticism for those calls, most notably from Celtics legends Bill Cousy, who said the situation “isn’t just a snub, it’s an embarrassment for the poor kid”.

Meanwhile, Tatum’s own mother, Brandy Cole, took to social media to voice her displeasure at the situation. After ESPN college basketball analyst Dick Vitale queried whether the 26-year-old was injured, Cole answered: “No he not. But if you find out what’s going on please let me know — unacceptable and makes NO SENSE.”

Why has Jayson Tatum not been playing for Team USA at the Olympics?

Kerr, for what it’s worth, attempted to explain the decision after the initial group game against the Serbs.

“Every game’s gonna be different based on matchups. He’s a total pro — he’s First Team All-NBA three years in a row. I felt like an idiot not playing him, but in a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10. You really can’t.”

Team USA has a 12-man roster for the 2024 Olympic Games, which means two players have been left off the rotation for each match.

The Golden State Warriors coach followed up after Thursday’s semifinal win: “It’s not about anything Jayson is doing or not doing. It’s just about combinations and the way that group has played together, the way Kevin (Durant) has filled in since he came back from his injury. It’s just a math problem more than anything.”

Tatum not injured, available to face France

That Tatum isn’t injured and has featured in every match other than the ones against Serbia suggests Kerr’s call was made based on the type of game he was expecting from that particular opposition.

Does that mean we will see him in Saturday’s final against France?

At this point, it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise whether Tatum plays or not. Whether the Celtics star is the solution to Kerr’s “math problem” against the French will ultimately decide.