Celtics

Jrue Holiday was one in all three Celtics to take home a gold medal for Team USA on the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Both Holiday and Derrick White served as two reliable backcourt options on head coach Steve Kerr's squad in the course of the international tournament. The same can’t be said for Jayson Tatum.

After a dominant 2023-24 season during which Tatum helped lead Boston to its 18th championship, the star forward was expected to be a everlasting fixture on Team USA's roster.

Finally, Tatum played a key role in Team USA's gold medal win on the 2020 Summer Games in Tokyo (20.5 minutes per game, 15.2 points per game).

But within the 2024 Games, Tatum played a complete of just 71 minutes in 4 games – with Kerr opting to take a seat out Tatum in two games against Serbia. Only 24-year-old guard Tyrese Haliburton saw less motion for Team USA in the course of the tournament than Tatum.

While Tatum has been vocal in regards to the ups and downs of the 2024 Olympics, Holiday admitted in a recent interview on Paul George's “Podcast P” show that he was also surprised that Tatum's minutes were diminished in Paris.

“Was it strange? Yes – it’s Jayson Tatum,” Holiday admitted. “What do you mean? The five best players within the league. Just won a championship, among the best players within the playoffs and in [NBA Finals’. When it was happening, like, yeah, you feel for him.  You could see that, yeah, he’s upset.”

For Holiday, who also won a gold medal alongside Tatum during the 2020 Olympics, it was a bittersweet feeling to see Tatum stuck on the bench during critical games against Nikola Jokic and Serbia. 

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity or experience where you get to be around some of the greatest athletes in the world,” Holiday said. “On the flip side, like just winning the championship with my boys, and then knowing how good they are, and they are good enough to be on this team, it’s definitely hard to see. Because, I mean, you want the best for your man.” 

Even though Tatum was upset about falling out of Kerr’s rotation, Holiday stressed that the Celtics star didn’t let those frustrations bleed into Team USA’s approach during the tournament. 

“He wants to play,” Holiday said of Tatum. “What’s going to be best for the team? I don’t want to mess up any chemistry. He wasn’t pouting. I could tell you that. He would get in the gym. It’s not like he stopped working. He was the one seriously trying to be like, ‘All right, well, I’m gonna stay ready whenever my numbers are called.”

Patriots

Aaron Rodgers is not any stranger to playing against the New England Patriots.

Although the longer term Hall of Famer spent most of his profession within the NFC with the Green Bay Packers, he played 4 games against New England – and had a 2-2 record against Bill Belichick and Co.

Of course, loads has modified in Foxborough recently, as Belichick's 24-year tenure in New England is over and Jerod Mayo is now on the New England sidelines.

The reshuffled hierarchy in New England has not been lost on a seasoned veteran like Rodgers, especially after several clashes with Belichick and Tom Brady over time. In particular, the 40-year-old Rodgers believes it’ll be an adjustment to go up against a coach in Mayo who he used to play against on the sector.

Mayo, 38, was chosen in the primary round of the 2008 NFL Draft, three years after Rodgers was chosen by the Packers in the primary round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

“It's just a little weird when you're playing against head coaches you've played against before. You're playing against guys who could be your kids, you know?” Rodgers told reporters in New York on Tuesday“It’s a good reminder of how special it is to still be playing at 40.”

Thursday's primetime game at MetLife Stadium will likely be the primary time Rodgers plays because the Jets' quarterback against New England.

Rodgers played just 4 snaps in Week 1 of the 2023 season before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury. Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian began for New York within the Jets' two games against the Patriots last 12 months.

Rodgers and the Jets are 1-1 this season, with the veteran quarterback completing 31 of 51 passes for 343 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He could have a troublesome matchup against New England's secondary, especially second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez.

Speaking on ESPN's “The Pat McAfee Show” on Tuesday, Rodgers praised Gonzalez, who is anticipated to play a number of plays on Thursday against New York's top wide receiver Garrett Wilson.

“I think he's a great player,” Rodgers said of Gonzalez. “He was at our rehab in the offseason at the Achilles Factory. It wasn't Achilles rehab, but he was out there. I got to know him a little bit. He's a great kid. He's super, super talented. I mean, he's an elite player.”

Gonzalez was matched up against Wilson during their Week 3 meeting in 2023, with Wilson limited to 3 catches and 18 yards on 23 routes in New England's 15-10 win.

Of course, Thursday's prime-time showdown will likely be far more difficult for Gonzalez and the New England defense with Rodgers at quarterback as a substitute of Zach Wilson.