Sports
Celtics’ Jayson Tatum reveals one of the best moments of his career
Since Jayson Tatum entered the NBA in 2017, the Boston Celtics have been slowly building toward a championship. In 2024, those efforts were rewarded, as the Celtics steamrollered their way though the NBA to secure the first banner in 16 years and cement Tatum’s place among the Celtics greats (along with Jaylen Brown.)
Throughout the season, multiple members of the media had questioned the Celtics championship credentials. Boston’s previous failures were being held against them as a reason to doubt the current iteration of the roster, despite clear signs that the team was finally ready to overcome any hurdles sent their way. It was those doubters that helped make the championship parade one of the best moments in Tatum’s young life.
“We’ve gotten close a bunch of times,” Tatum said during an interview with Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe. “We lost in the Finals. There’s a lot of people that doubted us, and I remember thinking about, ‘Man, when we win the championship, I can’t wait to tell everybody that doubted us, that had something to say.’ But you realize that moment that we won, when the confetti was falling and then the parade, it’s not about the people that doubted you. It’s about you guys, the guys that supported us along the way. Everybody that believed in us, and I can honestly say, the parade was the best two hours of my life.”
Brad Stevens spent this summer ensuring the Celtics championship window will remain open for years to come. He tied down multiple members of the rotation to long-term contract extensions, including a supermax deal for Tatum.
With the added continuity and a roster fresh off winning a championship, the Celtics will be heavy favorites to secure another ring at the end of the season.
If Boston can repeat its success from last season, Tatum will have another parade to consign to the memory bank. However, he will likely continue to hold the first one in the highest regard, especially after what it took for him and the team to get there.
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This article originally appeared on Celtics Wire: Jayson Tatum reveals one of the best moments of his career