Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum has accomplished much in his seven years in the NBA. Already a five-time All-Star and a four-time All-NBA selection, the former Duke Blue Devil recently reached the pinnacle of his pro career when he led the Celtics to an NBA championship with a 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals.
However, Tatum isn't done adding to his already impressive resume. He's now a member of Team USA and is keen on adding an Olympic gold medal to his trophy case. However, he will not be on this journey alone, as he'll have some of the greatest players of this era—LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Kevin Durant—by his side.
Foes turned teammates
Tatum, a 6-foot-8 forward, has been one of the league's elite players for the last five seasons. With his stellar play and calm leadership, Boston has become a perennial title contender, and as such, he's crossed paths with the league's best.
"I've been in the league for seven years, so I've played against all these guys on that level," JT said on "7 PM in Brooklyn." His tone was one of respect and admiration, a testament to his humility in the face of such basketball greatness.
"I've had to go against KD in the playoffs twice, faced LeBron, and played against Steph in the finals. So, I have that level of appreciation for them," the 26-year-old continued.
In the 2021 and 2022 NBA Playoffs, Tatum had to battle Durant and the Brooklyn Nets in the first round. In 2021, he averaged 30.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists, but those gaudy numbers weren't enough as Boston fell to Brooklyn, 4-1. However, Tatum got his revenge the following season, averaging 29.5 points. 4.5 rebounds and 7.8 assists in the Celtics' dominant 4-0 sweep of the Nets.
In that same postseason, Jayson and the C's made it to the NBA Finals, where they faced off against Steph and the Golden State Warriors. Although Boston had their chances, leading the series 2-1 at one point, Curry wasn't going to be denied as he led the Warriors to their fourth NBA championship in the last eight years.
Related: Kobe Bryant's former bodyguard compared working for him and other NBA stars: "Kobe was a sit outside-the-gate person"
A dope experience
As Tatum joined Team USA in Las Vegas for their training camp, he can't help but pinch himself at the thought of playing alongside these surefire first-ballot Hall of Famers.
"We did photos the other day, and those three went off to the side and took a picture. I had to take a step back and think, 'Man, those are three of the best players ever to play this game, and we're all teammates right now, trying to win a gold medal,'" Tatum surmised.
"I don't know if it was the fan or the kid in me, but that was like, 'Man, this is dope. I'm on a team with KD, LeBron, and Steph,'" JT stressed.
While Tatum must still face all three players when the new NBA season tips off this fall, he'll relish every moment he has with them as his teammates. He's eager to get to know them better, learn from them, and pick up a habit or two.
Related: "Shouldn't be there" - Brandon Jennings names the player who doesn't deserve a spot on the 2024 Team USA
Local Boston, MA
Most Popular
Comments / 0