Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum feels like a weight has been lifted after winning his first NBA title

BOSTON – Jayson Tatum all the time likes seeing Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett sitting courtside at Boston Celtics games. The Celtics forward notes the love fans show him, which is greater than just respect for being a Hall of Famer who dons the green and white. The respect and admiration comes from “The Truth” and “KG” playing a major role in bringing the 2008 NBA Championship to Boston.

After winning a title himself in Boston in 2024, Tatum feels amazing about having a “footprint” in Celtics lore and envisioned himself sitting courtside at TD Garden and receiving essentially the most love from fans after his retirement.

“In real time, I feel different, like I’m a part of history,” Tatum told Andscape after Celtics practice on Oct. 11. “You see when Paul Pierce, KG, all these guys come back, the pride they’ve because they’re rooted in history. You just feel the energy when these guys come back. They know they did something special. This is what you have all the time desired to do. I do know within the championship I’m on this room. I understand the energy they feel once they come back. It’s a sense of pride, a sense of joy, like you have achieved something special. I hope it is not just me.

To be a a part of Celtics history, you’ve to win a championship. We have already got 18. All the very best players here have won the championship. You are kept to the best standard. You need to win at the least one. It was nice to get it. I’m comfortable about it.”

Given the Celtics’ storied history, Tatum felt a huge weight lifted after winning the championship. He entered the 2024 NBA Finals with five conference finals appearances, one NBA Finals appearance and no rings. Tatum said he was “devastated” after losing to the Golden State Warriors in six games of the 2022 NBA Finals, believing he was playing his best basketball and had a great work ethic.

The five-time NBA All-Star, who scored 11,852 points over seven seasons, is predicted to ultimately go down in history as considered one of the best Celtics ever. But without the title, Tatum knew he really couldn’t be a part of the conversation between the Celtics’ champions. While the 26-year-old is not satisfied with one ring and still has a lot of catching as much as do, he felt winning the title in Beantown finally gave him the chance to face alongside Pierce, Garnett, Bill Russell, Bob Cousy and Larry Bird. , Kevin McHale and other Celtics legends.

“It was a big burden. I used to be close again and again,” Tatum said. “I felt, ‘Damn, perhaps it wasn’t imagined to be this fashion.’ These thoughts creep into your mind. In essentially the most difficult moments, doubts appeared. But nonetheless, I knew we’d tear it down at some point. When we did it, it meant every little thing.

On Tuesday night, Tatum and the Celtics will raise the NBA Championship banner in Boston once they tackle the New York Knicks within the first game of the season. The Celtics have won a record 18 NBA championships, yet one more than their rival Los Angeles Lakers. It may even be the first title banner displayed in Boston since 2008.

Tatum is happy to win his first NBA championship ring and at last see the banner he’s a a part of hanging from the rafters of TD Garden.

“I’ve seen opening nights in the NBA for many years,” Tatum said. “I saw teams raise the banner and receive rings. I’m like, “Man, I want that to be me someday.” I have not seen what the rings look like. It can be a surprise for all of us. I could have my family there. My mom and (my son) Deuce (Jayson Jr.) can be on the court with all of the fans who’ve supported us over time.

“This moment can be special. It can be something I’ll treasure for the remaining of my life. You will all the time remember the moment if you won, got your first ring and needed to put it on. That’s what all my favorite players did.

On July 1, Tatum signed a gigantic five-year, $315 million supermax contract extension with the Celtics. Last season, the 6-foot-8-inch, 210-pounder averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists and shot 47% from the sphere and earned First-Team All-NBA honors for the third straight season. Tatum has already earned $121 million in his NBA profession, not including off-the-court sponsorships.

Coming from St. Louis, entering his eighth yr in Boston, feels at home in Beantown and is grateful for the way much town and the club have given him on and off the sphere.

“Time flies,” Tatum said. “I used to be drafted in 2017… My son was born here. I purchased my first automobile here. And for me, I love and love the relationships I’ve inbuilt the organization, all of the coaches I’ve had, obviously within the front office, the safety guards, the trainers, the chefs, the fans, the people working on the Garden, the ball boys who do our laundry. The relationships I’ve built during the last seven or eight years, I can not imagine starting over and leaving them or this place.

“Of course, it’s so much more than that and I’m grateful for everything that’s happened to me. But more importantly, they want me to be here. I understand that I have made my mark by helping to build the Celtics legacy. A small part that I feel like I am a part of. There’s a group of 10-year-olds in Boston who will feel like I’m a part of their childhood. “I grew up watching him play at the Garden. I grew up watching him win championships. To be a part of a sports city like Boston is something special.”

With a latest contract and championship in hand, Tatum was next scheduled to move to the 2024 Paris Olympics to play for Team USA Basketball. All the recent joy on the championships was followed by disappointment as Tatum played sparingly en path to winning his second gold medal. Tatum averaged 5.3 points on 38.1% shooting in 4 Olympics and missed two contests.

While Tatum was admittedly disenchanted by the dearth of playing time, he put the Olympics into perspective.

“It was a learning experience. Some things you’ll be able to’t control,” Tatum said. “Everything happens for a reason, whatever that reason may be. But when I look back on my career, two gold medals, winning a championship, All-Star for five years. I’m doing well in life.”

With all due respect, Pierce and Garnett were only in a position to win one championship they usually exceeded expectations. The NBA’s all-time winningest player was Russell with 11 titles. Sam Jones scored 10 for Boston, while Tom Heinsohn, KC Jones, Satch Sanders and John Havlicek each scored eight. Cousy won six. The bird won three. Can Tatum be greater than just a one-time championship wonder?

The Celtics also had not repeated as champions since 1968 and 1969. The last NBA team to repeat as champions was the Warriors in 2018 and 2019. New contract, youth and talented roster, including 2024 NBA Finals MVP Jaylen Brown, defensive standouts Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis Tatum believes the favored Celtics are ready for one more banner and says it’s “lots of things” it is advisable listen to for this to occur.

“First of all, it’s our time to understand and take ownership,” Tatum said. “We have amazing opportunities so long as we’ve got this core group together. And constructing last (season). We won’t get credit for it, but we had an historic season in history. We played the fitting way. We played selflessly. The boys continued to attain individual success. We understood the moments when we wanted everyone.

“D-White scored 38 points within the playoffs against Miami. Can we proceed to want more? This just isn’t the time for us to attend for people to attack us. NO. What we did last season (season) was exceptional. But after the ring night (expletive), because in the brand new season everyone seems to be fighting for the championship. We need to play higher from game to game. That’s once we were at our greatest last yr. We didn’t skip any stage. We didn’t care about anyone.

“We struggled in the 2022-2023 season, just wanting to get back to the Finals, but we fell short of Miami. But last season (the season) it was like, no, we have to get better every day, whether we were playing the Lakers and LeBron (James) on Christmas Day or the bottom seed on League Pass. We were closed. It was visible. We only lost 20 games throughout the season, including the playoffs. It was impressive.”