Jayson Tatum enters his eighth NBA season with the Boston Celtics riding a wave of triumphs and personal challenges. After helping lead the Celtics to their 18th NBA championship and securing a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics, Tatum is motivated for more — but not without some frustrations.
During the offseason, Tatum added a new tattoo to his back, featuring an image of himself cradling the NBA championship trophy. The tattoo symbolizes his crowning achievement with the Celtics, but as he revealed during media day, his Olympic experience left him with a chip on his shoulder.
Despite the gold medal, Tatum faced disappointment during the Olympics when he was benched for two games. “In real time, it was tough,” he said. “It was a unique circumstance — something I haven’t experienced before in my playing career.” Tatum admitted that the experience could serve as motivation as he prepares for the upcoming season, though he emphasized that he didn’t need any extra fuel after winning the NBA championship.
“Did I need any extra motivation coming into the season? No,” Tatum remarked. “I was coming off the highest of highs with a championship, a new contract, and everything in between.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
Tatum acknowledged that Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was likely pleased with his Olympic benching, seeing it as a way to keep his star player focused. “Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP, and I didn’t play in two of the games of the Olympics,” Tatum joked.
Tatum isn’t the only Celtic with something to prove. Jaylen Brown, who edged out Tatum for NBA Finals MVP honors, wasn’t selected for the Olympic team — a snub he didn’t take lightly. During media day, Brown expressed his motivation, saying, “I’m extremely motivated, for obvious reasons. I’m ready to get after it.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
Brown’s omission from the Olympics, coupled with his MVP snub, has added an extra layer of intensity as he gears up for the new season. The Celtics, who had the shortest offseason in the league after winning the Finals on June 17, will need every bit of that energy as they defend their title.
The Celtics will return to practice with virtually the same roster that brought them to the top. Fifteen players, including their top 11 scorers, are back, and Tatum knows the challenge will be to avoid complacency after finally breaking through with a championship.
“It was never about trying to just win one,” Tatum said. “All the guys I looked up to growing up won at least one championship. Now it’s just a conversation of how great are you trying to be?”
The last NBA team to win back-to-back titles was the Golden State Warriors, and Celtics president Brad Stevens knows that maintaining focus is the key to staying on top. “They understand the target they have. They understand how human nature will play a role against you,” Stevens said.
While most of the team returns intact, the Celtics are keeping an eye on injuries as the season approaches. Kristaps Porzingis, who had offseason surgery to address an ankle injury, is recovering well. Stevens noted that he’s “very, very pleased” with Porzingis’ progress. Additionally, Luke Kornet and Xavier Tillman Sr. are expected to be ready for the season opener after undergoing procedures during the offseason.
Tatum remains laser-focused on greatness, not just for himself, but for the Celtics. After finally securing his first NBA championship, he’s looking to elevate his game to new heights and lead the Celtics to a potential 19th banner. The pressure to repeat is immense, but Tatum is embracing the challenge.
“It does feel different being up here as a champion and knowing what it takes and wanting to be on the top of the mountain as many times as you can,” Tatum said.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics Updates
As the Celtics head to Abu Dhabi to kick off their preseason, the team knows the road to another championship won’t be easy. But with Tatum and Brown motivated by offseason slights, and a roster built for sustained success, Boston is ready for another run at the title.
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