Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum logged two DNP-CDs through the 2024 Paris Olympics, which was an excessive amount of for a handful of out of doors viewers who could not perceive USA Basketball head coach Steve Kerr’s considering.
Everybody from Celtics legend Bob Cousy to workforce proprietor Wyc Grousbeck and even Tatum’s dad and mom, all rallied in assist of the five-time All-Star. Whether or not their emotions had been publicized or stored non-public, Tatum acknowledged the overwhelming assist after the United States defeated France, 98-87, in Saturday evening’s Olympic finale — a recreation by which Tatum performed simply 11 minutes and scored two factors on three shot makes an attempt.
“Lots of people textual content me and reached out and stated ‘Be certain that this fuels you,’ which I admire,” Tatum shared after Staff USA’s gold medal win over France, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “There’s lots of people that care about me. I feel the powerful half is sure, you need to use issues to gasoline you, however I am nonetheless human.”
Tatum’s Olympic controversy got here only a month after the Celtics made the 26-year-old the highest-paid participant in NBA historical past by locking him to a five-year, $313 million extension. It additionally got here after Tatum captured his first title by serving to defeat the Dallas Mavericks within the NBA Finals, which evidently, nonetheless wasn’t sufficient for the seven-year veteran to earn sufficient respect from Kerr to not play benchwarmer — twice.
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“It is arduous to not play, and I am guessing it is exponentially tougher while you’re probably the greatest gamers on this planet,” Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens advised Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. “However once we’ve talked, he is been all concerning the workforce. That is such a novel alternative to win a gold medal within the Olympics. He is at all times prepared. The championship recreation (towards France) can be an incredible street atmosphere, and he shines in these conditions.”
Though Tatum — and Celtics teammates Jrue Vacation and Derrick White — will depart Paris with gold medals round their necks, Boston’s franchise star can hold his stellar performances locked away for the workforce’s run at a repeat in 2024-25 season.
