Carmelo Anthony breaks down why Devin Booker thrived with Team USA while Jayson Tatum struggled (Image Credit: IMAGN)
Boston Celtics and Phoenix Suns superstars Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker made vastly different impacts during Team USA’s 2024 Paris Olympic gold medal run. According to NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, Booker fared better than Tatum due to his willingness to become a role player on the star-studded squad.
Fresh off his first NBA championship, Tatum was expected to be a key piece on the U.S.’s 12-man Olympic roster this summer. Instead, the five-time NBA All-Star struggled to earn consistent minutes, appearing in only four of six games.
In the four contests Tatum suited up in, he made a limited impact, averaging 5.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, shooting a team-worst 38.1%. Meanwhile, he failed to connect on a single 3-pointer.
Conversely, Booker thrived as a complementary two-way player alongside superstars Steph Curry, LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid in the starting lineup. Over six outings, the four-time NBA All-Star averaged 11.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 3.3 apg, shooting a blistering 56.8% and 56.5% from deep.
On Thursday’s episode of the “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & Kid Mero” podcast, Anthony raved about Booker’s impact on Team USA. The three-time Olympic gold medalist highlighted how seamlessly Booker fit into his role, crediting his college experience.
“The one person on the team who had to change their role was Devin Booker,” Anthony said. “[He] accepted the role of being a pick-and-pop guy, a catch-and-shoot guy.
“You know why? Because Devin Booker comes from that, in college he came from that. He came off the bench, so he’s used to earning his minutes and working his way and hard work, and people forget about that. So, he was more adaptable to that role. … To me, he was the unsung hero on that team,” he continued.
As Anthony alluded to, Booker came off the bench in all 38 games during his freshman season at Kentucky (2014-15). However, he thrived in his role, becoming a lottery pick (No. 13) in the 2015 NBA draft.
As for Tatum, Anthony noted that the reigning NBA champion may have been less willing to make sacrifices for the betterment of his squad. Thus, he fell out of U.S. coach Steve Kerr’s rotation.
“With Jayson Tatum, it was a role that I don’t know if he was ready to accept, or if it was communicated to him what his role was,” Anthony said. “They wanted him to do what Devin Booker did.”
Steve Kerr praised Devin Booker’s Olympic performance
Carmelo Anthony hailing Devin Booker as Team USA’s “unsung hero” echoed a similar sentiment from Steve Kerr.
Following the Americans’ 98-87 gold medal victory over France on Aug. 10, Kerr referred to the Suns superstar as his team’s “unsung MVP.”
“He was incredible this entire round,” Kerr said. “Just what he does, play to play to play. Rock solid. Completely changed his role from the NBA to now. He was kind of our unsung MVP. I just wanted to say that.”
Booker tied for second on Team USA in scoring against France, tallying 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and two 3s, shooting 66.7%. This year’s gold medal marked his second, with his first coming at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
