BOSTON — Lacking out at the Finals MVP award and getting benched within the Olympics will have to were difficult for Jayson Tatum to deal with.
Nonetheless, he mentioned Tuesday morning, Boston Celtics tutor Joe Mazzulla cherished to peer the All-NBA ahead proficient possible resources of motivation.
“Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and that I didn’t play in two of the games in the Olympics,” Tatum mentioned on the Celtics’ media date. “So, that was odd, but if you know Joe it makes sense.”
Jayson Tatum: “I talked to Joe a lot. Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and I didn’t play in two of the games at the Olympics. That was odd. But if you know Joe, it makes sense.”
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 24, 2024
The Celtics gained Tatum’s first NBA championship in June through beating the Dallas Mavericks in 5 video games, however the Finals MVP award going to Jaylen Brown. Tatum nearest captured an Olympic gold medal with Crew USA, however won two DNP-CDs (didn’t play games because of tutor’s choice) all the way through the match. Steve Kerr’s choice to bench Tatum used to be sudden given the 26-year-old’s pedigree.
Mazzulla will have to imagine the reviews will encourage Tatum.
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“Did I need any motivation coming into the season?” Tatum mentioned. “No. I’m not going to give anybody in particular credit that that motivated me to come into the season. It was a unique circumstance, something I (hadn’t) experienced before in my playing career, but I’m a believer that everything happens for a reason. I was coming off a championship, the highest of the highs, the cover of 2K and a new contract, and then that happened.
“And whatever the reason is, I haven’t figured out yet, but I am a believer that everything does happen for a reason. But it was a good experience. We won a gold medal, I won my second one. I was around some of the best players ever to play the game on a daily basis, built some friendships and was able to bring my family out there and enjoy the Olympics as a whole. So that was a plus for me for sure.”
Day Tatum’s feedback at the Olympics echoed his sentiments from his dialog with The Athletic in August, something that modified used to be the climate of his leap shot. Right through the summer time, Tatum attributed his penniless capturing within the postseason and Olympics to a mix of being out of rhythm and the legislation of averages. Tatum shot 28.3 p.c from deep all the way through the postseason and upcoming ignored each leap shot he took in France.
However on Tuesday, he graphic one of the most mechanical paintings he has completed together with his abilities educator to get his shot again heading in the right direction. Tatum mentioned he has made adjustments to various facets from hand placement at the ball to maintaining his shoulders ahead.
“There (are) some things I could’ve fixed, but just in the midst of the playoffs trying to manage your rest and things like that, it’s a little tougher,” Tatum mentioned. “I was still playing well, just wasn’t shooting the ball as well as I would have liked. And obviously, we were winning, so it wasn’t the time or place to try to fix things in that moment.”
Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Relief additionally gained gold medals with Crew USA.
Like Tatum, Brown may just doubtlessly significance the Olympics as gas. Coming off a playoff run all the way through which he earned the Japanese Convention Finals MVP and the Finals MVP, Brown used to be handed over for a place at the Olympic roster even then Kawhi Leonard left the crew over the summer time. Brown laughed when the primary query for him on media date addressed the snub.
“Goddamn,” Brown mentioned. “We can’t warm up a little? S—.”
Brown proceeded to indicate he stored the verdict in thoughts over the offseason.
“I’m extremely motivated for obvious reasons,” Brown mentioned, “and I’m ready to get after it.”
“I’m ready to go,” he added. “I’m excited about being back. The past is the past but I’m ready to get after it, lead our guys, get the guys, build some team chemistry, not skip any steps and just set the tone for another year again.”
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(Photograph: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Photographs)
