The Boston Celtics beat the Los Angeles Lakers 126-115 in their Christmas Day game, but one individual wearing green was not happy towards the end. With the shot clock running down, Derrick White threw a pass to Jayson Tatum, who hilariously got out of the way.
Jayson Tatum makes Derrick White commit an official turnover because he doesn’t want a shot clock violation turnover that doesn’t actually exist.
Derrick White tilted. pic.twitter.com/YeeblbBnyR
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 26, 2023
I certainly do not blame White for being a bit upset over that. I’d assume Tatum didn’t catch that pass because he felt he would then get a turnover to his name for having the ball when the shot clock expired.
A lot of players seem unaware of the fact that shot clock violations are considered a team turnover. They do not go down as a player’s turnover, but because Tatum left the ball and Austin Reaves picked it up, that became a turnover for White. He might have been explaining the same to Tatum at the end there, and the two men did seem to laugh it off eventually.
NBA Fans Reacted To Jayson Tatum Refusing To Catch The Pass
This incident hilariously ended up being a big talking point after the game. The clip went viral and NBA fans reacted to it.
One says Tatum should have known the rule.
Tatum should know shot clock violation is a team turnover haha
— RJ (@rbanks12) December 26, 2023
A fan says Tatum is not a leader.
Not a leader
— Street Clothes 🧢 (@LeCap623) December 26, 2023
A fan hopes that someday, players will recognize they won’t get a turnover for this.
Someday NBA players will learn it's not a turnover, and it doesn't lower your teammate grade like a 2k game…Someday
— CountT (@CountDaGOAT) December 26, 2023
One says Tatum cares too much about his stats.
https://twitter.com/senseitakes/status/1739450988816146756
One stated this was a clown move on Tatum’s part.
what a clown move by tatum
— Boc (@bocs_army) December 26, 2023
I wouldn’t go as far as some of the fans did, but Tatum really shouldn’t have done that. It does give off the impression that he cares way too much about his stats and I don’t think any player wants to have that label on them.
As for Tatum’s play in this one, he didn’t have the greatest of nights. He put up 25 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 block, but shot 6-15 from the field. White, meanwhile, had 18 points, 2 rebounds, 11 assists, 2 steals, and 2 blocks while going 8-13 from the field.
Jayson Tatum Thinks Derrick White Should Be An All-Star
The Celtics now have the best record in the NBA at 23-6. The likes of Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Kristaps Porzingis have received a lot of credit for that, but White has also played a big role in their success.
He has excelled on the defensive end and is averaging 16.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game this season. After White recorded 28 points, 2 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal, and 3 blocks in a win over the Sacramento Kings last week, Tatum stated he is an All-Star on his Instagram story.
This is a growing sentiment in Boston, but I don’t see White making the All-Star team. His numbers aren’t jaw-dropping and we know that playing great defense doesn’t always earn someone a spot on the team.
There are too many flashier and more eye-catching guards in the East like Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Tyrese Haliburton, and Trae Young, to name a few, who will certainly be ahead of him in the pecking order.
While White almost certainly will not make that team, the 29-year-old should make one of the All-Defensive Teams, as he did last year. He might also end up being in the running for Defensive Player of the Year, as he has really excelled on that end of the floor.
We sincerely appreciate and respect you as a reader of our site. It would help us a lot if you follow us on Google News because of the latest update.
Thanks for following us. We really appreciate your support.
