Gregg Popovich Jokes About Message To Jayson Tatum Earlier than Spectacular Efficiency

You don’t develop into a legendary coach like Gregg Popovich with out figuring out methods to give some sage recommendation. That’s exactly what he did for Jayson Tatum on Saturday night time.

Tatum hadn’t been overly impactful early on throughout the Tokyo Olympics, which obtained him relegated to a bench position. He supplied a pleasant jolt Saturday although, dropping 27 factors off the bench in a Workforce USA victory over the Czech Republic of their remaining qualifying spherical recreation.

Seems, Popovich had a joking message for Tatum.

“I simply informed Jayson to behave like he’s taking part in the Spurs,” Popovich mentioned, by way of The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn. “Each time he performs us he scores 90.”

Popovich isn’t completely fallacious, both. Of all of the groups within the NBA, Tatum averages his fourth-most factors (22.4) per contest in opposition to the Spurs. That trails solely the New Orleans Pelicans (25.9), Portland Path Blazers (25.8) and Los Angeles Clippers (23.0)

Tatum’s subsequent alternative to play like he’s dealing with the Spurs might be within the knockout spherical.

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