"Can't tell you nothing no more": Al Horford embraces 'champ' Jayson Tatum with emotional message
Jayson Tatum's emotions were on full display throughout Game 5 of the decisive 2024 NBA Finals. When Boston inched to their 18th title in the final minutes of their 106-88 win, the forward couldn't hold back his tears when he checked out of the game as the Celtics emptied the bench.
He was seen with his head down and sobbing in joy, and the most comforting of words came from his teammate, Al Horford. The veteran was seen embracing Tatum and had some choice words as the game came to a close with Boston winning 106-88.
The mics picked up the conversation between the two players, with Horford saying no one could criticize Tatum anymore for not winning a ring.
"They can't tell you nothing no more, you a champ!"
Boston was unstoppable in Game 5. Tatum and the team made the NBA Finals in 2022 but were outclassed by the Golden State Warriors. The following season, they made the Eastern Conference Finals but lost to the Miami Heat.
This time around, they mowed down their opponents with precision basketball and now the forward finally has a ring to his name after five ECF and two NBA Finals appearances.
Jayson Tatum had a strong showing in the 2024 NBA Finals
All eyes were on Jayson Tatum to see how the forward would fare in the Finals, and the 4x NBA All-Star didn't disappoint as he racked up 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game throughout the series. However, it was his teammate Jaylen Brown who won Finals MVP after winning the same honors in their ECF win over the Indiana Pacers earlier.
Brown notched 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, and five assists per game as the C's won the series in five games. He had a 30-point performance in Game 3 and delivered 21 points to close out the game on Monday. Tatum had 31 points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists to lead from the front as the Celtics put up another clinic to get past the Dallas Mavericks.
The title is the first for Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, who are regarded as one of the best one-two punch combos in the NBA. They have improved season by season, and after two solid additions in Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday, the franchise was finally able to put the right pieces around their two superstars to help them win their 18th championship.