Jayson Tatum has been criticized time and time again – and now has a championship under his belt. As he prepares for the Olympics, the Celtics star had a few words for the people who questioned him
For years, Jayson Tatum has been one of the best players in the NBA. But he failed to bring the championship to Boston before this season. A flaw that brought one or two critics onto the scene. Is Tatum good enough? Can he lead a team to the championship as its best player? Questions that have been answered at the latest since this summer and the Celtics’ clear 4:1 win over Dallas.
But all the discussions have not left the guard unscathed. “In my opinion, there are still many things they can discuss. But now I’ve done something they can’t discuss: I won a championship,” Tatum makes clear as he prepares for the Olympics. “There are obviously still conversations to be had. But they have to see me as NBA champs forever now.”
Those discussions were kind of silly anyway after this season for the Celtics, including 64 wins and a 16-3 run in the playoffs, but Tatum couldn’t care less now. The Celtics’ No. 0 celebrated the title with his teammates and Finals MVP Jaylen Brown and was also happy about the great parade in Boston, which he said was “the two best hours of my life.”
Tatum: “I’m just grateful “
Tatum, who signed a new record contract with the Celtics shortly after the end of the season and will receive over 300 million dollars for the next five years, is definitely doing well. “I’m just grateful. It’s not about the money. I’ve been fortunate enough to make enough, more than I ever thought I would, to take care of my family. I have nothing but love for the city, the fans and everyone in the organization. We just won a championship and I want to try to win as many as I can,” said the man who will be the clear favorite to win gold with Team USA at the Olympic Games in France.
