Since entering the league in 2017, Jayson Tatum has helped to lead the Boston Celtics to four trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, even reaching the NBA Finals in 2022. The 25-year-old star has had a ton of success early in his career, but some fans around the league have decided to focus on the failure to earn that first championship.
Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade discussed Tatum’s success, during a recent sit-down with Sports Illustrated’s Bobby Krivitsky. Wade was sure to highlight the importance of the opportunities that the St. Louis native has had so early in his NBA journey.
“He’s had a lot of times where he’s been right there,” Wade told Krivitsky. “And a lot of people like to talk about it like that’s a bad thing. No, please give me a lot of opportunities at it. And hopefully for him, and he’s one of my favorite players in the NBA, he’s one of my favorite people in the NBA to communicate with and to talk with, to do anything with, and I want to see him get everything he wants from the game. But you’ve got to have patience with it as well. Your career doesn’t look like someone else’s; it just doesn’t.”
Jayson Tatum has great opportunity to help Boston Celtics end 15-year title drought
It’s really been that long. A whole decade-and-a-half since the Boston Celtics last raised a banner in 2008. Like Wade alluded too, they’ve been extremely close in recent seasons, reaching three of the last four Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston sits second, only behind the reigning champion Denver Nuggets, on the list of betting favorites to win the 2024 NBA title.
The roster is as strong as it’s ever been, with newly acquired big man Kristaps Porzingis helping to round out the starting five. Porzingis is coming off of a career season, where he averaged his highest scoring average at 23.2 points per game.
Tatum certainly has plenty of help alongside him, as he and the Celtics push for Banner 18. The 25-year-old is more than due to help raise that next banner. He’s been named to the All-NBA first team in the past two seasons, cementing himself amongst the league’s best.
His running-mate Jaylen Brown just inked a five year, $304 million contract extension to remain in Boston. Brown’s signing should help to alleviate any off-court rumors that he’s eyeing a departure from the C’s.
There aren’t any excuses left this year. This is the year. Tatum — who, by the way, hasn’t been the issue in recent postseasons (except the 2022 Finals) — should be ready to lead the Celtics to their next championship.