Dave Portnoy, the outspoken founder of Barstool Sports, has expressed deep frustration with Team USA head coach Steve Kerr’s decision to bench Jayson Tatum during the Paris Olympics.
Portnoy didn’t hold back in a passionate three-minute video posted on social media, where he sharply criticized Kerr for what he sees as disrespect towards Tatum. The decision to keep Tatum on the bench, despite his status as one of the league’s top players, has been a hot topic. Portnoy was so upset that he declared he wanted France to win by a huge margin just to spite Kerr.
In the video, Portnoy said, “I was rooting against them [Team USA], and I want France to beat them by 1,000 points. I don’t care that I’m American. The disrespect that Steve Kerr has shown Jayson Tatum throughout this tournament makes me hate this team. Jayson Tatum brought me a world championship, an NBA championship, and Banner 18.”
Portnoy described Tatum as a champion and criticized Kerr for allegedly ruining the star’s reputation by not playing him in key matches. He also questioned Kerr’s coaching decisions and used strong language to express his discontent.
Portnoy didn’t stop at criticizing Kerr; he also took aim at other Team USA players, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Devin Booker. He said, “I hate LeBron; he’s 100 years old, and Durant and Booker are on the same team; they suck. You know who won the championship; you know who had the best players? The Celtics… To make this guy, who is a true superstar in this league, be embarrassed like this?”
Tatum has been benched multiple times by Kerr during the Paris Olympics, with notable absences from games, including against Serbia. Bob Cousy, a Boston Celtics legend and six-time NBA champion, shared Portnoy’s frustration, calling Kerr’s decision an embarrassment for Tatum and hinting at possible bias against the Celtics.
In response to the criticism, Kerr defended his choices, citing specific roster combinations and strategic considerations. However, the backlash has grown, especially concerning Tatum’s role in the gold medal match against France.
