TҺe 𝚗Bа cҺаmpιо𝚗 Bоstо𝚗 Celtιcs’ Jаysо𝚗 Tаtum wаs аbse𝚗t frоm SаturԀаy’s оpe𝚗ι𝚗g оf tҺe U𝚗ιteԀ Stаtes me𝚗’s оlympιc bаsketbаll trаι𝚗ι𝚗g cаmp Ԁue tо persо𝚗аl cо𝚗cer𝚗s.
American head coach Steve Kerr has stated that teammate Andrew Tatum is expected to report to Las Vegas on Monday for the third of four camp practices. After Wednesday’s exhibition match against Canada, the squad will depart for nearly five weeks of international competition, beginning with two games in Abu Dhabi, two in London, and the Olympics in Paris.
The 26-year-old Tatum, who is joined on this U.S. squad by fellow Celtic Jrue Holiday, is aiming for his second Olympic gold medal; he won one with the team at the 2013 Tokyo Games. During the Olympics, Tatum was second on the American squad in scoring with 15.2 points per game, only behind Kevin Durant’s 20.7 points per game.
Tatum has a jam-packed few months coming up, culminating with the Olympics. The five-time All-Star got his offseason off to a record-setting start by agreeing to a league-record three-year, $314 million agreement that may keep him in Boston until the 2029-30 season. Last month, he helped the Celtics win their first NBA championship since 2008.
As per NBA regulations, the agreement could only be finalized on Saturday, the first day such a deal could be done.
“Jayson is a special person and player, and it’s been a thrill for all of us to watch his entire journey in Boston,” said Celtics President Brad Stevens in a team announcement published on Saturday. He has fully embraced the role of a great Celtic and consistently and sincerely cares for everyone of his teammates, coaches, and staff members.
This past season, Tatum averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game for the Celtics. Throughout his first seven seasons in the NBA, he averaged 23.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
During the most of the week leading up to the start of the U.S. camp, Tatum was in Las Vegas, organizing an elite camp for a limited group of high school and college players. Along with fellow NBA players Paolo Banchero and Chris Paul, fellow American Olympian Bam Adebayo was also a part of that camp.