Jayson Tatum hit again at former journeyman Brandon Jennings who named the All-NBA ahead ‘the softest Celtics celebrity in historical past’.
Fairly the assertion from Jennings, contemplating ‘delicate’ gamers normally don’t lead their workforce in factors, rebounds and assists on the best way to an NBA championship (the one others to take action are Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, Tim Duncan, Hakeem Olajuwon and Larry Chicken).
To not point out an extremely embellished profession on the age of simply 26 which incorporates 5 All-Star honors, three straight All-NBA First Workforce choices and he leads the best way in all-time playoff factors earlier than the age of 27.
Jennings, whose profession spotlight is an All-Rookie First Workforce choice in 2010, hardly qualifies to critique the sport or character of a participant like Tatum – however that’s new age media for you.
On a podcast hosted by former All-Star Gilbert Arenas, who impressed Tatum himself to put on the quantity zero when he entered the league, Jennings made a sequence of controversial remarks:
“Is [Tatum] the softest Boston Celtics celebrity ever? Why didn’t he get Finals MVP final yr? Why did you let your operating mate do it, should you’re so robust?
“I believe I’ll be extra afraid of Jaylen Brown than Jayson Tatum.”
NBA groups most likely really feel in any other case, contemplating Tatum averages 28.1 factors a recreation to Brown’s 23.9 and offers higher rebounding and assists in addition to a better effectivity from three and the sphere.
However hey, Brandon Jennings mentioned he’s delicate.
Tatum responded with an Instagram publish on Wednesday together with a caption that learn: “SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy.”
Tatum turned first participant to not win Finals MVP when main workforce in factors, rebounds, assists
With out discrediting Brown’s excellent playoff run, it’s value noting that Tatum turned the primary participant in league historical past to steer their workforce in scoring, rebounds and assists and never win the Finals MVP award.
Loads of all-time greats like Steph Curry (2016), Larry Chicken (1981), Kevin Garnett (2008), Kobe Bryant (2000-02) and Tim Duncan (2007 and 2014) didn’t find yourself successful the award regardless of having a robust case.
The reality is, a workforce has a a lot better probability of successful a championship if a couple of participant is in rivalry for the award.
Following Tatum’s standout efficiency in Sport 5 of the NBA Finals the place he closed the sequence out with 31 factors, eight rebounds and 11 assists, he was the odds-on favourite to win Finals MVP however it surprisingly went the opposite means.
As per the finest on-line sportsbooks, the Celtics are the present title favorites to turn into the primary back-to-back champions because the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018.
In an interview earlier than the beginning of the 2024-25 season, Tatum mentioned he is aware of he’ll win Finals MVP in the future and if the Celtics proceed on this path there’s no purpose to recommend he received’t get one other probability.
“It simply wasn’t my time… Steph Curry obtained 4 rings & he solely has 1. Isiah Thomas, Larry Chicken didn’t win Finals MVP each time… For me, I used to be completely happy for [Jaylen Brown]… I do know that I’m gonna win Finals MVP in the future”
—Jayson Tatum
(through @JaredSGreenberg)pic.twitter.com/0QiJBu0qSE
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 25, 2024
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25822567/2191990278.jpg?w=360&resize=360,180&ssl=1 "Souvenirs from Celtics’ 3-1 journey out west")
