(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
While some are concerned that Team USA could be ripe for an upset in the upcoming Summer Olympics, there is no doubt it boasts one of the most talented rosters it has ever had.
The unfortunate downside of that is that a few players won’t get as much playing time or as big a role as they may feel they deserve.
One player who has seen that happen to him is Tyrese Haliburton, the All-Star point guard for the Indiana Pacers.
While he got 20 minutes in the United States’ first exhibition game versus Canada, that playing time has diminished since, and he didn’t play at all on Monday against Germany, per Evan Sidery.
During Team USA’s exhibition games, Tyrese Haliburton was slowly phased out of the rotation entirely by Steve Kerr:
Canada = 20 minutes
Serbia = 15 minutes
South Sudan = 7 minutes
Germany = 0 minutes
Haliburton, who was one of the key players on Team USA’s FIBA roster, appears… pic.twitter.com/7SrpHzOPuE
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) July 22, 2024
Haliburton has been named to the All-Star team in both of the last two seasons, and this past season, he led the NBA in assists per game with a 10.9 average.
He helped the Pacers become a legitimate playoff team, and with him putting up some big numbers in the second round against the New York Knicks, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The United States’ minutes at the guard spot off the bench have been going to Anthony Edwards and Derrick White, who combined for 13 points in Monday’s win.
The team has looked vulnerable at times during its exhibition games, leading some to fear it could be ripe for an upset, and therefore it needs to put its best players on the floor at all times, even if it means some people’s feelings will get hurt.
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