Boston Celtics Small forward Jayson Tatum has established himself as one of their most important players ever since he was selected as the third overall pick by the franchise in 2017 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. Tatum's journey in the NBA has been marked by significant achievements culminating in a defining moment in the 2023/24 season when he led the Celtics to a league-record 18th NBA championship.
Tatum has been chosen for the NBA All-Star Game for five consecutive years and has become one of the most popular players in the league. The 26-year-old played a key role in leading the Celtics to a league-record 18th NBA championship in the recently concluded 2023/24 season.
His talent and consistency on the court have earned him five consecutive NBA All-Star Game selections, making him one of the league's most popular and recognized players. His influence extends beyond just his stats; he is seen as a leader both on and off the court.
In the past, however, there was criticism aimed at the small forward over his lack of championship success. Tatum believes that having now led the franchise to that elusive title, he can now be called an “elite player.”
“A hundred percent. Just being at the topic of discussion of so many debates or whatever it is. ‘Can he lead a team? Is he a top-five player?’ There’s still a lot of things I guess they can debate. But for now I have done something that they can’t debate: I have won a championship,” Tatum said during media interaction at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas.
“Having that under my belt, like obviously it’s still conversations to be had or whatever people want to say, but they always got to refer to me as an NBA champion.”
While Tatum did not win the Finals MVP award, he still made history through his performances in the playoffs. In fact, the 26-year-old averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.0 steals per game during the 2023/24 NBA Finals.
His performances earned him a five-year maximum contract extension worth an estimated $314 million, which will end in the 2029/30 season and includes a player option. Should the small forward decide to take the player option, he will make $71.4 million per season. It should be noted that no player in NBA history has ever earned $70 million in a single season, and he will become the first player to do so.
This deal broke the previous record held by his Celtics teammate Jaylen Brown, who signed a five-year contract extension worth $304 million last year. This was at the time the largest contract in NBA history, and it now means that Boston will pay their top two stars more than $600 million as per their contracts.
The superstar opened up about his contract extension, and with that done, he hopes to lead the Celtics to winning as many NBA championships as he can.
“I’m just very thankful and grateful. It’s not about the money. I have been fortunate enough to make enough, more than I ever thought I would ever have and to take care of my family. So for me, just to feel wanted, that they wanted me to be, wanted me for the long haul, for my whole career. I have got nothing but love for the city, the fans and everybody in the organization, and we just won a championship, and I want to try to win as many as I can,” he concluded.
Jayson Tatum when asked if the Celtics would beat Team USA:
— CelticsUnite (@CelticsUnite18) July 9, 2024
"I'm riding with the guys that I just played 10 months of basketball with... I'm taking us against whoever"
pic.twitter.com/4rrhitovpo
Tatum averaged 26.9 points on a 60.4 percent shooting, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game in approximately 35.7 minutes on the court last season. He also joined an illustrious NBA list following the conclusion of Game 5 of the NBA finals, becoming only the sixth player in the league’s history to lead his team in playoff points, rebounds, and assists while leading his team to the championship.
The other five players to achieve this feat in NBA history are Larry Bird (1984), Hakeem Olajuwon (1994), Tim Duncan (2003), LeBron James (2012, 2013, 2016), and Nikola Jokic (2023).
Jayson Tatum's journey from a promising young talent to an NBA champion has been marked by dedication, hard work, and an unwavering belief in his abilities. By leading the Boston Celtics to their 18th NBA championship, he has silenced his critics and firmly established himself as one of the elite players in the league. With a record-breaking contract and a hunger for more championships, Tatum's legacy in the NBA is only beginning to take shape.
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