Jayson Tatum has had quite the NBA journey, achieving numerous milestones along the way.
His track record speaks volumes, with five All-Star appearances, three All-NBA selections, and an impressive 323-168 regular-season record. On top of that, he has secured 10 playoff series victories, four trips to the Eastern Conference Finals, and an NBA Finals appearance – the first for Boston in over a decade.
And let’s not forget his signature moments. Remember when he dropped an NBA-record 51 points in Game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers? He’s practically owned them in the playoffs with a 12-4 record. Then there was his 46-point performance in Game 6 against Milwaukee during the 2022 NBA Finals run, which forced a Game 7.
Needless to say, the St. Louis native has experienced a great deal of success in his six-and-half years donning Celtic green. At just 25 years old, he has already left his mark on the Celtics and NBA record books.
Despite his extraordinary success, Tatum is still in pursuit of that elusive championship ring.
While he doesn’t overlook personal accolades, maintaining a humble and appreciative demeanor, he ultimately wants to be remembered as a winner. And to earn that title, he knows he needs a ring to show for it.
“I want to be a winner. I want to win,” Tatum told ESPN’s Malika Andrews. “I’ve felt that ‘why hasn’t he won? His window has closed.’ It’s tough when you have success early, right? I’ve been to the Finals once, been to the Conference Finals four times, so it just seems like, ‘he should have done this, done that.’ I was just doing those things at a really young age.”
LeBron James won his first title at 27, Stephen Curry at 26, Kevin Durant at 28, and Michael Jordan also at 28. It’s often overlooked when considering Tatum, given his remarkable success in such a short span.
As Tatum enters his prime, emerging as the face of the NBA, his time is coming, and he knows it.
“I’ve had some really good teams, and I’ve been a part of some really special runs, but I truly do believe my time is coming, and it’s going to be well worth it,” Tatum said.
This season presents Tatum with his best opportunity yet. As he acknowledged, he’s been on some talented teams before, but none compare to the caliber of this year’s squad.
Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday appear to be the missing pieces Boston needed. Pair them with the All-Star caliber play of Derrick White, the ever-so-steady presence of Al Horford, and the ongoing growth of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both enjoying stellar seasons; the team seems stronger and more imposing than ever before.
“Yeah, it is,” Tatum said when asked if this year’s team is better than the 2022 NBA Finals team. “Just because I think I’m better than I was two years ago. JB Is better. KP makes all the difference in the world. Obviously, Jrue Holiday. And the way Derrick White has been playing compared to two years ago.”
With Brown securing a five-year, $304 million supermax extension and Tatum eligible for a lucrative five-year extension potentially worth $338 million this summer, the Celtics have committed to one of the league’s premier duos at the peak of their careers -- An investment that promises to yield significant returns.
“[We’re] still relatively young guys,” Tatum remarked on the duo of himself and Brown. “Understanding that this is our time and we need to take full advantage of it. It’s going to pay off in the long run.”
These factors contribute to why owner Wyc Grousbeck sees the Celtics' current championship window as a multi-year opportunity.
“I look at the next six years as a real opportunity for us,” Grousbeck said back in October. “And that’s not to take anything away from this year, but we’re gonna keep doing this until we uncover that banner, until we print something on that, or we’re going to die trying.”
Boston's moment is on the horizon. After 16 long years since the Celtics last reigned supreme in basketball, the end of this drought may finally be within reach.
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