Jayson Tatum is on a mission to get revenge on the NBA this season. If you harbor any doubts, just listen to him.
Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix wrote a lengthy feature story on the Celtics heading into the new season, which starts next week. In it, he details Tatum's misery following last season's Finals loss.
"I was exhausted," said Tatum. "Didn't feel like talking to anybody. Didn't feel like being bothered. It's hard to explain if you have never been in that situation. But losing a championship was f---ing miserable."
Those are encouraging words. With Tatum and Jaylen Brown already playing in three Eastern Conference Finals together in their young careers, there's been some concern about complacency filling Boston's locker room. But Tatum's comments indicate that's not the case.
He says he still hears the Warriors celebrating their Game 6 victory. "Definitely not a good feeling," he said. "I'll never forget."
Tatum, who turned the ball over an NBA-record 100 times in the postseason and shot 36.7 percent from the floor, took on a surlier attitude this offseason, says his trainer, Drew Hanlen. In fact, Hanlen says Tatum didn't lose a one-on-one game all summer.
"He has become obsessed with winning," said Hanlen.
Given Ime Udoka's shocking one-season suspension, the Celtics may need Tatum to be an alpha more than ever to fill a leadership vacuum. At 24 years old, the rising star seems poised to take that leap.
