No matter how you slice it, Jayson Tatum is a superstar in every sense of the word. He’s already one of the most accomplished players in the history of the Celtics and the entire NBA. If he retired tomorrow, he’d already be a sure-fire Hall of Famer with four first-team All-NBA appearances, two Olympic Gold Medals, a championship in which he led the team in points, rebounds, and assists, plus countless other achievements and accolades.
Still, at age 28 and entering his 10th season in the league, there’s room for improvement and a leap to an even higher level. If there’s one thing that JT has never really done, it’s take over a team as the face of the franchise, the leader, and the guy who elevates every other player on the roster.
Don’t get me wrong, he has always done this with his play on the court, but now he’s poised to take that leap in terms of leading, not just by example, but vocally and with his actions on and off the court. It was partially necessitated by the team’s roster moves in recent years, but it also feels like Tatum was more than ready for this and is fully embracing his role as the face of the Celtics.
Hauser and Conley gushing about Tatum, the leader
We have heard hints about it all offseason and seen Tatum’s growth and maturity over the years, but if there was any doubt, it was all put to rest on media day and early in training camp with some telling quotes from his teammates. First, Sam Hauser spoke about JT initiating a team workout in LA.
“JT hit the group chat, invited us all out.”
This alone isn’t anything crazy, but it’s not something we’ve seen in past years, and it shows him taking a new approach to proactive leadership and taking responsibility for building chemistry in basketball and in life. But quotes from his new teammate, a well-respected veteran leader, Mike Conley, took things to another level and really got my juices flowing.
“I always thought he was one of the best players in the league. Getting to know him now, he’s a guy I feel like is really coming into his own as a leader. A guy that’s ready to make a jump… He has a lot to prove, and he’s out there trying to prove it.”
“He's setting up all kinds of things off the court. He's bringing in huddles — after practices and every workout we have, he has something to say, calling guys out and just really taking ownership of the situation.”
And this is the kind of stuff that should be music to Celtics fans’ ears. Perhaps it’s childish and fantastical to root for players and want them to always do the right thing. It’s naive, as a superfan, to hope that the best players care as deeply about the team and about winning and losing as the diehards.
Becoming an elite leader of men is final step for Tatum
But at the same time, there’s something undeniable about the way it feels and impacts a team. And these quotes and what we’ve seen from JT coming off his devastating injury are starting to feel like something out of a sports movie.
Everyone is doubting him because of the Achilles injury, and everyone is doubting the team after the Jaylen Brown trade. Meanwhile, Tatum came back early, looked great on the court last year, and should be 100% healthy and confident this season. Plus, he’s taking on a much bigger leadership role and seems more invested than ever.
I’m not saying I believe in magic or that this is heading for a Hollywood ending, or anything like that. But the vibes couldn’t be better; everyone is saying all the right things, and Tatum is on track to have the best season of his career and unlock the highest level of superstardom in sports just as he enters the heart of his prime. This is an exciting time to be a Boston Celtics fan.
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