"I'm 24 and one of the best players in the world and that I will compete against whoever and take on that challenge" - Boston Celtics star acknowledges his stature in the game, but believes he can improve
Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is widely considered to be one of the best players in the league. The 24-year-old played a pivotal role in taking the Celtics to the NBA Finals last season.
In an interview with Jared Weiss of The Athletic, Jayson Tatum spoke about his experiences in the league so far. He explained that he thrives on being one of the best players in the game. However, Tatum also stated that he is not resting on his laurels and has plenty of room for improvement.
"(I learned) that I’m 24 and one of the best players in the world and that I will compete against whoever and take on that challenge," Tatum said. "In that same breath, I feel like there’s so much I could be better at, and I think that’s the exciting part.
"That I’m at where I’m at, where there’s so much more I can be, so much more I can learn and so many more experiences to go through."
What has made Tatum one of the best players in the game is his ability on the defensive end. The forward's speed and length make him a formidable perimeter defender and he played a part in helping the Boston Celtics post the best defensive record in the league last season.
Jayson Tatum is confident the Celtics are ready to hang an 18th championship banner this season.
"We got this close, and we added two really good players. I think it makes us better."
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Jayson Tatum's 2021-22 season with the Boston Celtics
Early in the season, there were reports of a rift between the Celtics players and rookie head coach Ime Udoka. However, the Boston Celtics did not let that affect them and went on an incredible run. They finished second in the Eastern Conference with 51 wins.
Jayson Tatum, during the regular season, averaged 26.9 points and 8.0 rebounds. He recorded 22 double-doubles and had 35 or more points in 13 games.
Jayson Tatum (@jaytatum0) is 1 of 2 NBA players with at least 1,000 points and 300 rebounds in 2021-22
He's the only player in the NBA this season averaging 25.0 points and 8.0 rebounds with 60+ 3-pt field goals
#NBAAllStar Celtics.com/vote https://t.co/J4Bo0XCk2d
The Celtics' postseason started in tremendous fashion as they swept the Brooklyn Nets. Jayson Tatum averaged 27 points per game on better than 37% shooting from the perimeter. However, his performances dropped in the NBA Finals, where he averaged fewer than 22 points.
While the disappointment of losing in the NBA Finals will linger, what should be kept in mind is that the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum had a tremendous season. He will likely have plenty more opportunities to bag a title in the future.