Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum feels relieved by his first NBA title – Andscape

BOSTON – Jayson Tatum always enjoys seeing Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett sitting courtside at Boston Celtics games. The Celtics' star forward acknowledges the love the fans have for them, which is much more than just respect for being Hall of Famers who have worn the green and white jerseys. The respect and admiration comes from “The Truth” and “KG,” who played an important role in bringing an NBA championship to Boston in 2008.

After finally bringing a title to Boston himself in 2024, Tatum is great about having a “footprint” in Celtics history and has pictured himself sitting courtside at TD Garden after retirement with the greatest love who receives fans.

“It feels different in real time, man, I’m a part of history,” Tatum told Andscape after a Celtics practice on Oct. 11. “You see when Paul Pierce, KG, all these guys come back, the pride, the.” They have that because they are deeply rooted in history. You can just feel the energy when these guys come back. They know they've done something special. This is what you've always wanted to do. I know I'm in this room with the championship. I understand the energy they feel when they come back. It's a feeling of pride, of joy, like you've achieved something special. Hopefully it's not just one for me.

“To be part of Celtics history, you have to have won a championship. We now have 18. All the best players here have won a championship. They are held to the highest standards. You have to win at least one. It felt good to get that. I’m happy about that.”

Consider the Celtics' storied history: Tatum felt a massive weight gain occur after winning a championship. He reached the 2024 NBA Finals with five conference finals appearances, one NBA Finals appearance and no rings. Tatum said he was “devastated” after losing in six games to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Finals because he believed he was playing his best basketball and also had a great work ethic.

With 11,852 points scored in seven seasons, the five-time NBA All-Star is expected to ultimately be considered one of the greatest Celtics of all time. But without a title, Tatum knew he really couldn't enter the conversation among the Celtics' all-time greats. Although the 26-year-old isn't satisfied with a ring and still has plenty of basket left, he felt the Beantown title finally gave him an opportunity alongside Pierce, Garnett, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Larry Bird to stand, Kevin McHale and other Celtics legends.

“It was a lot of weight. I was close so many times,” Tatum said. “It felt like, 'Damn, maybe that's not what I meant.' These thoughts creep into your head. In the most difficult moments there were doubts. But on the other hand, I knew that one day we would make it. It meant everything when we did it.”

On Tuesday night, Tatum and the Celtics will raise the NBA championship banner in Boston when they take on the New York Knicks in their season opener. The Celtics have now won an NBA record 18 championships, one more than their rival Los Angeles Lakers. It will also be the first title banner raised in Boston since 2008.

Tatum is excited to get his first NBA championship ring and finally see a banner he's a part of up in the rafters at TD Garden.

“I watched opening night in the NBA for so many years,” Tatum said. “I saw teams raise their banner and get their rings. I'm like, “Man, I want to be like that one day.” I haven't seen what the rings look like. It will be a surprise for all of us. I will have my family there. My mom and (son) Deuce (Jayson, Jr.) will be on the sidelines with all the fans that have supported us over the years.

“This moment will be special. It will be something I will treasure for the rest of my life. You will always remember the moment you won, got your first ring and had to put it on. All my favorite players did that.”

Tatum signed a mammoth five-year, $315 million extension to his supermax contract with the Celtics on July 1. The 6-foot, 210-pound player averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and shot 47% from the field last season, earning All-NBA First Team -Award for the third time in a row. Tatum has already earned $121 million in his NBA career, not including off-court endorsements.

Now entering his eighth year in Boston, the St. Louis native feels at home in Beantown and is grateful for how much the city and franchise have given him on and off the field.

“Time flies,” Tatum said. “I was drafted in 2017… My son was born here. I bought my first car here. And I personally admire and love the relationships that I've built within the organization, all the coaches that I've had, of course the front office, security staff, trainers, chefs, the fans, the people that work at the Garden, the ball boys, who do our laundry. I can't imagine starting over the relationships I've built over the last seven, eight years and leaving them or this place.

“Of course it is much more and I am grateful for everything that has come my way. But more importantly, they want me to be here. I understand that I played a critical role in building the legacy of the Celtics. A small part that I feel like I'm a part of. There are a lot of ten-year-olds in Boston who feel like I'm a part of their childhood. “I grew up watching him play at the Garden. I grew up watching him win championships.' In a sports town like Boston, it’s special to be a part of it.”

With a new contract and a championship in hand, Tatum was next up for the 2024 Paris Olympics to play for USA Basketball. After all the joy of a recent championship, there was disappointment as Tatum played sparingly en route to his second gold medal. Tatum averaged 5.3 points on 38.1% shooting in four Olympic Games and did not compete in two events.

While Tatum was admittedly disappointed with his lack of playing time, he did put the Olympics in perspective.

“It was a learning experience. “Some things are out of your control,” Tatum said. “Everything happens for a reason, whatever that reason may be. But when I look back on my career: two gold medals, won a championship, five years as an all-star. I’m doing well in life.”

Respectfully, Pierce and Garnett only managed to win one championship and fell short of expectations. The NBA's all-time biggest winner was Russell with 11 titles. Sam Jones won 10 for Boston, while Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Satch Sanders and John Havlicek each won eight. Cousy won six. Bird won three. Can Tatum be more than just a one-championship wonder?

The Celtics also haven't repeated as champions since 1968 and 1969. The last NBA team to repeat as champions was the Warriors in 2018 and 2019. With a new contract, youth and a talented roster including 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, defensive standout Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis, Tatum believes the favored Celtics are primed for another banner and says there are “many things” to do to make it happen.

“First, we must understand that this is our time and take responsibility for it,” Tatum said. “We have an amazing window of opportunity, no matter how long we have this core group together. And expand the last (season). We won't get the recognition, but we had an all-time historic season. We played right. We played selflessly. Boys still had individual success. We understood the moments when we needed everyone.

“D-White had 38 in a playoff game against Miami. Can we continue to want more? This is not the time to wait for people to attack us. No. What we did last season was special. But after the ring night (expletive) that's because everyone is dying for us to win a championship in a new season. We have to get better every game. We were at our best there last year. We didn't skip any steps. We didn't look past anyone.

“In the 2022-23 season we struggled with just wanting to get back to the finals and didn’t get to Miami. But last (season) it was like, no, we have to get better every day, whether we were playing the Lakers and LeBron (James) on Christmas or playing the lowest ranked team on League Pass. We were locked up. You could tell. We only lost 20 games all season, including the playoffs. That was impressive.”