Both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown played pivotal roles in the Boston Celtics’ triumph in the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Finals. Although Tatum made significant contributions, it was Brown who earned the MVP honors for both series. Nevertheless, Tatum remains unfazed by not receiving the individual recognition.
In a recent interview with NBA TV’s Jared Greenberg, Tatum expressed his happiness for his teammate’s accomplishment.
“It just wasn’t my time. Steph Curry’s got 4 rings, and he only has 1 [Finals MVP]. Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird didn’t win Finals MVP every time. For me, I was happy for [Jaylen Brown]. I know that I’m gonna win Finals MVP one day,” Tatum remarked.
While Tatum looks ahead to future accomplishments, Brown has faced his own challenges. He was not selected for the Team USA roster, whereas Tatum made the cut and brought home gold from the Paris Olympics.
Jayson Tatum Reflects on Setbacks and His Pursuit of Celtics Greatness
In addition to missing the MVP title, Jayson Tatum encountered another challenge this year: he was benched for two games at the Paris Olympics. Despite these hurdles, Tatum remains composed, drawing motivation from his team’s achievements and his reverence for Celtics icon Larry Bird.
During his discussion with Jared Greenberg, Tatum elaborated on where his priorities truly lie.
“I don’t give anybody or a situation like that much attention or credit. I didn’t need any extra motivation coming into the season. My motivation came from us winning the championship and the company that I joined in doing that,” Tatum explained.
“Larry Bird is the best Celtic to ever wear this uniform, and that’s the guy that I’m chasing. Even if I fall short of that, if I aspire to be as great as he was, and if you fall a little short, you had a hell of a career,” he added.
The Celtics, led by Brown and Tatum, are set to begin their pre-season with a matchup against the Denver Nuggets on October 4.
Image Source: Jayson Tatum @ Instagram
