Ime Udoka and Jayson Tatum bought a head begin on what is perhaps a protracted NBA relationship.
The Boston Celtics head coach revealed to reporters Tuesday how he and the C’s celebrity benefitted from the time they spent collectively on the Tokyo Olympics.
As an alternative of smothering Tatum along with his voice and basketball views, Udoka ceded the accountability of educating Tatum to Group USA’s different coaches. In spite of everything, they will have numerous alternatives to work collectively in Boston.
“Clearly, we spent a ton of time to sort of strengthen our bond,” Udoka stated, per The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach. “However I simply sort of let him be taught from the opposite coaches. I hit him with little gems right here and there about issues he can implement when he would not have the ball, like he’ll in Boston. So attempting to work on a few of these issues.”
Udoka’s strategy is considerably stunning, as many would anticipate him to attempt to coach up Tatum early and sometimes on their Olympic journey. How their relationship unfolds over time in the end will inform whether or not Udoka’s hands-off strategy proved efficient.
Udoka additionally praised Tatum for the way he got here off the bench for Group USA and impacted video games in a constructive manner.
“The bench position (on Group USA) was one thing completely different for him, however he accepted it,” Udoka continued. “And in case you have a look at his numbers total, I feel (he was the) second-leading scorer behind Kevin (Durant). He did a fantastic job and clearly he performed nice within the final recreation.”
Tatum’s skilled relationship with Udoka began two years in the past once they labored collectively as a part of Group USA’s 2019 FIBA World Cup squad. Their bond crystalized earlier this summer season when the Celtics employed Udoka as head coach in a transfer Tatum supported.
It seems like they will be on the identical web page, personally and professionally, once they start their working collectively in Boston.
