After some near misses and heartbreaks over the years, Jayson Tatum has finally become an NBA champion in his seventh season in the league. In his postgame press conference, a jubilant Tatum was asked what was going through his mind as Game 5 was winding down.
“It is a real feeling,” Tatum said. “Still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Just trying I guess (to) enjoy the moment. I kept saying, ‘Wow.’ These last seven years have been a roller coaster, up and down. I had to listen to all the s*** that people said about me, and tonight, it was worth it. Oh my God.”
"These last seven years have been a rollercoaster. Up and down. I had to listen to all this shit people said about me. And tonight, it was worth it." – Jayson Tatum 🏀🏆🎙️ pic.twitter.com/nQhPdQ1yud
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 18, 2024
It truly has been one hell of a ride. Tatum was selected with the third pick of the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics and in his very first season, they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Cleveland Cavaliers just about beat the Celtics in seven games in that series and it seemed like only a matter of time before they would break through and win it all. Things didn’t quite pan out that way, though.
In Tatum’s first six seasons, the Celtics were eliminated in the Conference Finals on three occasions and lost in the NBA Finals once, in 2022 to the Golden State Warriors. They were very good, but just not good enough to win it all.
That finally changed in the 2023-24 campaign. The Celtics traded for Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason to bolster their roster and boy, did those moves work out. With Tatum leading the way, they finished with a league-best record of 64-18.
Despite that excellent record, many doubted the Celtics heading into the postseason. Those doubts persisted even with the team getting to the Finals, as they had beaten some injury-riddled squads along the way. On that big stage, though, their class shone through.
The Celtics dispatched the Mavericks in five games to clinch their record 18th NBA championship. Tatum, who had struggled mightily with his shot in the first four games of the series, led his team to victory in Game 5 with 31 points, 8 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals.
It was just over two years ago on June 16, 2022, that the Warriors were celebrating winning the championship in TD Garden. Tatum ensured that the visiting team would have nothing to celebrate this time around.
Jayson Tatum’s Son Told Him He Is The Best In The World
Tatum celebrated with his son Deuce on the court after the 106-88 win in Game 5 and that was quite special to watch. He had a lot to say to his father and Tatum was asked during his press conference if he could share what his son told him.
“He told me that I was the best in the world,” Tatum said. “I said, ‘You damn right I am.'”
Jayson Tatum on his son, Deuce, after winning the NBA championship: “He told me that I was the best in the world. I said, ‘You damn right I am.’” pic.twitter.com/737OFsaJqL
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) June 18, 2024
Well, Tatum will always be the best in Deuce’s eyes. Is the 26-year-old the best player in the world, though? Not in my book, but he is one of the best.
Tatum finished the Finals with averages of 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game. The five-time All-Star only shot 38.8% from the field and 26.3% from beyond the arc, but still managed to have a big impact on the games with his defense, playmaking, and rebounding.
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