They still talk to each other from time to time » during the season. Especially when their teams obviously face each other, or at the time of the All-Star Game. “ It's great to see him do all these special things that we like to see him do, and have fun doing it “, coward Jayson Tatum while speaking from his former teammate, Kyrie Irving.
The reunion between the latter and the Celtics team is one of the big threads of the upcoming NBA final. This is the opportunity to delve back into this failed experience which marked the winger's first two years in the big league.
“ There's definitely been some ups and downs, but for me, as a first or second year player, being around a superstar every day and seeing how to navigate that space… And then obviously on the field, it's one most talented guys I've ever seen », Qualifies Tatum.
A failed cohabitation
He adds, regarding this sequence between 2017 and 2019: “ It seems like a long time ago, but I have a lot of good memories of having Ky as a teammate. » And less good ones too because the 2018-2019 financial year ended with an exit in the second round of the playoffs at the end of a season described by Tatum himself, earlier in the season, as “ terrible mess “.
“ Players were coming back from injury, others were trying to prove themselves, like me. I was trying to be better than the year before. It was a difficult year. Everyone wanted to do more. We didn't quite understand how to coexist with each other. No matter how talented a team is, they must always work together », he blurted.
A second chance
He says it again today, that “ It's not just talent that will get you to the top. It’s having guys who are willing to sacrifice. […] It wasn't about Kyrie, it was all of us. We all learned from this experience. Some of us stayed there, others left and did great things since that season. »
Firstly Jayson Tatum and the Celtics who, the following year, managed to reach the conference final. Then, two more years later, to invite himself to the NBA Final (2022). A final lost to the Warriors. This is again an experience from which we also had to learn lessons.
“ There are a lot of things I can, and we can, learn from this finals experience, this time it's very different. We have obviously been there before and failed. And it's a great opportunity to reach the finals again », continues the man who had not stood out for his skill that year.
Before adding: “ We don't always get a second chance, so we have to see it as a second chance and try to simplify things as much as possible. This is another series we have to win. » Opposite, his former teammate thinks the same.
| Jayson Tatum | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 80 | 31 | 47.5 | 43.4 | 82.6 | 0.6 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 13.9 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 79 | 31 | 45.0 | 37.3 | 85.5 | 0.9 | 5.2 | 6.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 15.7 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 66 | 34 | 45.0 | 40.3 | 81.2 | 1.0 | 6.0 | 7.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.4 | 0.9 | 23.4 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 64 | 36 | 45.9 | 38.6 | 86.8 | 0.8 | 6.6 | 7.4 | 4.3 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.5 | 26.4 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 76 | 36 | 45.3 | 35.3 | 85.3 | 1.1 | 6.9 | 8.0 | 4.4 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 26.9 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 74 | 37 | 46.6 | 35.0 | 85.4 | 1.1 | 7.7 | 8.8 | 4.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 30.1 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 74 | 36 | 47.1 | 37.6 | 83.3 | 0.9 | 7.2 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 26.9 |
| Total | 513 | 34 | 46.0 | 37.5 | 84.4 | 0.9 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 3.5 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 23.1 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
