(Los Angeles) American Jayson Tatum, crowned NBA champion with the Boston Celtics in June, hopes to “stay at the top of the mountain as many times as possible,” he said on Tuesday, in search of a new title.
After years of bitter failure, Tatum (26) led the Celtics’ homogeneous roster to an 18-point lead last season.e NBA title, a record, 16 years after the last one for the clover franchise.
“It was never about winning one, was it?” Tatum said Tuesday at a news conference a month before the start of the 2024-25 season.
“Every player I looked up to growing up had won at least one title. Now the question is, what level of excellence do you want to achieve?”
“To come as a champion and know that level of demand to stay on top of the mountain as many times as possible makes things different,” he added, saying he was “proud” of what was done last season. “We made history.”
Tatum went on to win the Olympic gold at the Paris Games with Team USA, but in a minor role. “It gives you motivation, if you want to simplify things. At the time, it was tough.”
The Celtics are expected to be favorites to replace him with an unchanged roster, which pleases general manager Brad Stevens.
“Normally, I don’t say no to one or two changes, little things that can bring motivation, create the spark, give that little extra you need. But I think these guys motivate each other. Their chemistry is unique, they deserve the opportunity to tackle this new challenge together,” commented the former coach of the “C’s”.
Having made history in June as one of the youngest coaches to be crowned NBA champions, Joe Mazzulla (36) expects this season to be a test of his players’ deep motivation.
PHOTO MICHAEL DWYER, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joe Mazzulla
“We want to be champions every year, that’s the goal, that’s our level, that meets expectations. […] “It’s a test of what you really want, what motivates you deep down inside,” he said.
“We have to stay open-minded, just because something worked once doesn’t mean it will work again,” he warned.
Boston will begin its season at home against the New York Knicks on October 22.