Jayson Tatum Wanted To Win The NBA Finals In Dallas

Jayson Tatum revealed on "The Old Man and The Three" podcast that while winning the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics was a dream come true, he would have preferred to clinch the title in Dallas.

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Credit: Fadeaway World

Jayson Tatum recently revealed on “The Old Man and The Three” podcast that while winning the NBA Finals with the Boston Celtics was a dream come true, he would have preferred to clinch the title in Dallas. The Celtics captured their first championship since 2008 by defeating the Mavericks in five games, with the final victory coming at home in TD Garden. 

“I would have preferred to win on the road, honestly. Just because I know what it felt like for somebody to win a championship on my home court.”

“I wanted that get back. I wanted to win in Dallas because I saw the Warriors win on our home court and that s**t was devastating.”

Despite the euphoria of winning in front of home fans, Tatum had a specific reason for wanting to secure the championship on the road.

Reflecting on the 2022 NBA Finals, Tatum recalled the pain of seeing the Golden State Warriors celebrate their victory on Boston’s home court. The memory of the Warriors’ confetti falling at TD Garden was a bitter pill to swallow, and Tatum yearned for a chance to return the favor.

Tatum’s desire to win in Dallas underscores his competitive nature and the emotional impact of previous defeats. By securing the championship on the road, Tatum felt it would have been a fitting way to exorcise the demons of past losses and demonstrate the Celtics’ resilience. 

The idea of winning away from home also carries a unique satisfaction, as it involves overcoming not only the opposing team but also the hostile environment of their supporters.

Nevertheless, winning the title at home brought immense relief and joy. Tatum described the championship victory as “a breath of fresh air” that lifted the weight of expectations off his shoulders. He relished the sense of accomplishment and the validation that came with joining the ranks of NBA champions.

Despite the preference for a road victory, Tatum’s achievement remains monumental. Leading the Celtics to their 18th title solidified his legacy and provided a sense of closure after years of near misses. As he continues his career, Tatum’s championship experience will undoubtedly fuel his drive for more success, whether at home or on the road.


Jayson Tatum Has Jaylen Brown’s Back

Jayson Tatum has always been a staunch supporter of his teammate Jaylen Brown, and this offseason has been no different. During an appearance on Wave Sports + Entertainment’s “7PM in Brooklyn” with Carmelo Anthony and The Kid Mero, Tatum opened up about the criticisms and trade rumors that have often surrounded Brown.

“We looked at it as you get to the conference finals five out of seven years, that’s sustained success. A lot of people like, ‘Oh, they knocking on the door. They don’t have enough.’ It’s like, no, we knew our time was coming. We knew it was just any day or any year that it was going to fall in place.”

“But it was tough. I just turned 26 and they was talking about us like we was 32 and 35, like our window had closed. And they say your prime don’t start till you 27, 28. So we felt like we was ahead of the curve and we was like, ‘Yo, it was just a matter of time.’ “Over time we had to learn how to coexist with each other.”

“And that’s for anybody. I was 19, he was 20 when I first got to the league. We were still figuring out our personal life. Our family just navigating through this thing called the NBA, with so many expectations of being with Boston and we play on national TV every other night.”

“Like it’s a lot of things that come with that. So we had to learn that we needed each other and we got to a perfect point in our career where he had got his money, I had got mine. We had All-Star and All-NBA selections. Like we wasn’t tripping off that. It was just like, only thing we haven’t done is win a championship.”

Tatum acknowledged how tough it has been for both him and Brown to hear the constant chatter questioning their ability to lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship. The duo finally silenced their critics by leading the Celtics to a championship victory last season, a moment Tatum described as a “breath of fresh air.” (21:00)

Despite the scrutiny and doubts from the media and fans, Tatum emphasized that he and Brown always believed in their potential. Their journey together has not always been smooth, but Tatum highlighted how their relationship and on-court chemistry have grown over the years. 

The duo’s perseverance paid off, with both players shining in the postseason. Tatum averaged 25 points, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, while Brown added 23.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, earning him both the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP awards.

Looking ahead, Tatum expressed confidence in their ability to defend their title despite the challenges posed by improved competition in the Eastern Conference. As the Celtics aim for a repeat, Tatum’s unwavering support for Brown and their shared goal of continued success remain clear.

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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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