For the first time in his career, Jayson Tatum will no longer come across Marcus Smart in the locker room. Boston leaders decided to sacrifice their playmaker to recover Kristaps Porzingis. A real strategic choice as the arrival of the Latvian changes the profile of the team, but also its character. On paper, the 2023/24 Celtics appear weakened on defense, while Marcus Smart embodied the values appreciated by the franchise. This “blue collar” side that appeals so much to the Boston public. Is Jayson Tatum capable of replacing him in this role?
“Obviously I’m going to miss Smart… He was my teammate for six years, and we went through everything together. The good times, as well as the bad times. He’s someone I wanted to play with my whole career.” confides the All-Star winger.
“I’m not going to start jumping around and screaming.”
At 25 years old, Jayson Tatum will therefore have to prove that he is more than an exceptional striker, and that he can be a leader by example. Will he commit violence?
“I will never be Kevin Garnett” he replies. “As much as people want me to be like that, that’s not who I am. By my way of being a leader, the public may never see what I do. When it’s necessary, I make sure my voice is heard and I do it my way. I’m not going to start jumping around and screaming. It’s not my personality. Even if people want to talk about it and want me to be like this, I won’t change who I am. I am a leader in my own way. When I speak, everyone in this organization will listen to me. And everything I say is always for the good of the team – and my teammates know it. »
If not Kevin Garnett or Marcus Smart in attitude, Jayson Tatum at least wants to imitate them in defense: “I want to be on an All-Defensive Team. That’s what I want ! »
| Jayson Tatum | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | GM | Min | Shots | 3 points | 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 |
| Total | 439 | 34 | 45.8 | 37.5 | 84.7 | 0.9 | 6.1 | 7.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 22.5 | |
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.
