Celtics

“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.”

Jayson Tatum. AP Photo/Michael Dwyer

The two games that Jayson Tatum didn’t play during the Olympics are a hot topic in the NBA right now, but Tatum told NBATV’s Jared Greenberg in a recent interview that he’s not letting the situation affect his motivation.

His motivation comes from within, namely his desire to etch his name into Celtics history, he said.

“I don’t give anybody or a situation like that much attention or credit,” Tatum said. “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.”

“The motivation came from not being satisfied,” Tatum added. “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. My motivation is to chase the best players to ever play, the best players to ever wear a Celtic uniform.”

There have been many great Celtics over the years, including Bird, who won three NBA championships, three MVP awards, and two Finals MVP awards, and made 12 all-star teams.

The late Bill Russell won 11 titles and five MVP awards, and also made 12 all star teams. The league was smaller back then, but the accomplishments speak for themselves.

Bird’s position, like Tatum’s, was forward. Russell was a center. Both players retired before Tatum was born in 1998. Bird was more recent, playing from 1979-1992. Russell, who died in 2022, played from 1956-1969.

Tatum, a five-time all-star who is coming off of his first title, still has work to do to reach the Mount Rushmore of all-time great Celtics. But, he is off to a remarkable start. He already has a championship under his belt at age 26, which is younger than Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry were when they won their first titles.

But, Tatum was not named Finals MVP when the Celtics won this past summer. That honor went to Jaylen Brown, who also won the Eastern Conference Finals MVP award that is named for Bird.

Tatum said he’s not too worried that he didn’t win the award this time. He led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists during the postseason.

“It just wasn’t my time, I guess,” Tatum said. “I’m not the only superstar to not win Finals MVP. Steph Curry got four rings and he only has one. Isiah Thomas didn’t win every time. Larry Bird didn’t win Finals MVP every time he won a championship.”

“The most important part is that we won, and I know I played a huge role in us winning a championship,” Tatum added. “I know that JB played his butt off and I know that we needed [Kristaps Porzingis} for Game 1. We needed everybody, Jrue and D-White. I was happy for JB. I was happy that we won. I know that I’m going to win Finals MVP one day, which means I get to win another championship.”

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