Jayson Tatum enters his eighth NBA season with the Boston Celtics using a wave of triumphs and private challenges. After serving to lead the Celtics to their 18th NBA championship and securing a gold medal with Staff USA on the Paris Olympics, Tatum is motivated for extra — however not with out some frustrations.
Through the offseason, Tatum added a brand new tattoo to his again, that includes a picture of himself cradling the NBA championship trophy. The tattoo symbolizes his crowning achievement with the Celtics, however as he revealed throughout media day, his Olympic expertise left him with a chip on his shoulder.
Regardless of the gold medal, Tatum confronted disappointment through the Olympics when he was benched for 2 video games. “In actual time, it was powerful,” he stated. “It was a novel circumstance — one thing I haven’t skilled earlier than in my enjoying profession.” Tatum admitted that the expertise might function motivation as he prepares for the upcoming season, although he emphasised that he didn’t want any further gasoline after profitable the NBA championship.
“Did I would like any further motivation coming into the season? No,” Tatum remarked. “I used to be coming off the best of highs with a championship, a brand new contract, and every thing in between.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
Tatum acknowledged that Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was seemingly happy along with his Olympic benching, seeing it as a technique to maintain his star participant targeted. “Joe was most likely the happiest individual on this planet that I didn’t win Finals MVP, and I didn’t play in two of the video games of the Olympics,” Tatum joked.
Tatum isn’t the one Celtic with one thing to show. Jaylen Brown, who edged out Tatum for NBA Finals MVP honors, wasn’t chosen for the Olympic workforce — a snub he didn’t take frivolously. Throughout media day, Brown expressed his motivation, saying, “I’m extraordinarily motivated, for apparent causes. I’m able to get after it.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
Brown’s omission from the Olympics, coupled along with his MVP snub, has added an additional layer of depth as he gears up for the brand new season. The Celtics, who had the shortest offseason within the league after profitable the Finals on June 17, will want each little bit of that vitality as they defend their title.
The Celtics will return to observe with just about the identical roster that introduced them to the highest. Fifteen gamers, together with their high 11 scorers, are again, and Tatum is aware of the problem will probably be to keep away from complacency after lastly breaking via with a championship.
“It was by no means about making an attempt to simply win one,” Tatum stated. “All the blokes I regarded as much as rising up gained not less than one championship. Now it’s only a dialog of how nice are you making an attempt to be?”
The final NBA workforce to win back-to-back titles was the Golden State Warriors, and Celtics president Brad Stevens is aware of that sustaining focus is the important thing to staying on high. “They perceive the goal they’ve. They perceive how human nature will play a task towards you,” Stevens stated.
Whereas many of the workforce returns intact, the Celtics are maintaining a tally of accidents because the season approaches. Kristaps Porzingis, who had offseason surgical procedure to deal with an ankle damage, is recovering effectively. Stevens famous that he’s “very, more than happy” with Porzingis’ progress. Moreover, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. are anticipated to be prepared for the season opener after present process procedures through the offseason.
Tatum stays laser-focused on greatness, not only for himself, however for the Celtics. After lastly securing his first NBA championship, he’s trying to elevate his recreation to new heights and lead the Celtics to a possible nineteenth banner. The stress to repeat is immense, however Tatum is embracing the problem.
“It does really feel completely different being up right here as a champion and realizing what it takes and eager to be on the highest of the mountain as many occasions as you’ll be able to,” Tatum stated.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
Because the Celtics head to Abu Dhabi to kick off their preseason, the workforce is aware of the street to a different championship gained’t be simple. However with Tatum and Brown motivated by offseason slights, and a roster constructed for sustained success, Boston is prepared for one more run on the title.
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