Jayson Tatum on new-look Bucks: They're going to have a hell of a team
Suddenly, Jayson Tatum’s path back to The Finals became exceedingly more challenging when Lillard arrived in the East. “I was surprised,” Tatum told B/R. “You saw the Damian Lillard trade talks all summer, and I never saw Milwaukee in that conversation. I never heard about them [being interested]. So, opening up my phone and seeing that definitely shocked me. “They’re going to have a hell of a team. There’s no way around that. They have two of the best players in this league at two of those prime-time positions. They’re going to be tough, but it’s gonna be fun. I’m looking forward to this season. It’s a lot of really, really good teams in the league and it’s going be some good basketball this season.”
Source: Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report
Source: Chris Haynes @ Bleacher Report
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Sam Quinn @SamQuinnCBS
If we’re operating under the assumption that Team USA can have any 12 American players it wants, this would be my preferred roster:
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Kawhi Leonard
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: LeBron James
C: Joel Embiid
G: Devin Booker
G: Damian Lillard
F Jayson Tatum
F: Jimmy… – 4:27 PM
If we’re operating under the assumption that Team USA can have any 12 American players it wants, this would be my preferred roster:
PG: Stephen Curry
SG: Kawhi Leonard
SF: Kevin Durant
PF: LeBron James
C: Joel Embiid
G: Devin Booker
G: Damian Lillard
F Jayson Tatum
F: Jimmy… – 4:27 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Asked Tatum today on how often he sees Jrue Holiday taking some of the ball-handling duties off his plate: “He’s the lead guard on a championship team two years ago. He’s a point guard, one of the best that we have in this league, so he’s just gonna take the pressure off” pic.twitter.com/ekXpgXV2RD – 3:07 PM
Asked Tatum today on how often he sees Jrue Holiday taking some of the ball-handling duties off his plate: “He’s the lead guard on a championship team two years ago. He’s a point guard, one of the best that we have in this league, so he’s just gonna take the pressure off” pic.twitter.com/ekXpgXV2RD – 3:07 PM
Bobby Manning @RealBobManning
Joe Mazzulla today: “I love defense.”
Jayson Tatum: “(He’s talking about defense) more than last year. Credit to you guys, right?” – 2:17 PM
Joe Mazzulla today: “I love defense.”
Jayson Tatum: “(He’s talking about defense) more than last year. Credit to you guys, right?” – 2:17 PM
BasketNews @BasketNews_com
Jayson Tatum joins the list of NBA superstars who intend to play for Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics 🤔🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EDtWpVlNqz – 2:13 PM
Jayson Tatum joins the list of NBA superstars who intend to play for Team USA in the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics 🤔🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/EDtWpVlNqz – 2:13 PM
Jared Weiss @JaredWeissNBA
Jayson Tatum said he wants to play for Team USA at the Olympics next summer. – 1:19 PM
Jayson Tatum said he wants to play for Team USA at the Olympics next summer. – 1:19 PM
Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
Jayson Tatum said he will play in the Paris Olympics if invited. #Celtics. #TeamUSA. – 1:16 PM
Jayson Tatum said he will play in the Paris Olympics if invited. #Celtics. #TeamUSA. – 1:16 PM
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Take a moment to imagine: Steph, KD, LeBron, Embiid, Bam, Book, Tatum, Bridges, Haliburton, Edwards, Dame, Draymond. And there’s like 20 worthy guys not on that list. – 12:45 PM
Take a moment to imagine: Steph, KD, LeBron, Embiid, Bam, Book, Tatum, Bridges, Haliburton, Edwards, Dame, Draymond. And there’s like 20 worthy guys not on that list. – 12:45 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Jrue Holiday on playing with Brown/Tatum: “I wanna make the game easier for them.” – 4:21 PM
Jrue Holiday on playing with Brown/Tatum: “I wanna make the game easier for them.” – 4:21 PM
John Karalis @John_Karalis
Sure looks like Tatum was working on the Paul Pierce shot from the Paul Pierce spot pic.twitter.com/q6SrkJhMJX – 1:33 PM
Sure looks like Tatum was working on the Paul Pierce shot from the Paul Pierce spot pic.twitter.com/q6SrkJhMJX – 1:33 PM
Adam Himmelsbach @AdamHimmelsbach
“I just think of him as a middle linebacker or safety because he has such great instincts to be able to make plays where you say, ‘Wow.”
With the Bucks, Charles Lee saw Jrue Holiday guard Steph, Tatum and Randle. He said there’s more to come in Boston.
bostonglobe.com/2023/10/03/spo… – 6:35 PM
“I just think of him as a middle linebacker or safety because he has such great instincts to be able to make plays where you say, ‘Wow.”
With the Bucks, Charles Lee saw Jrue Holiday guard Steph, Tatum and Randle. He said there’s more to come in Boston.
bostonglobe.com/2023/10/03/spo… – 6:35 PM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
New: In an interview with @Toucherandrich, Jayson Tatum spoke candidly about his attempts at recruiting Damian Lillard to Boston before his eventual deal to the Bucks masslive.com/celtics/2023/1… – 2:26 PM
New: In an interview with @Toucherandrich, Jayson Tatum spoke candidly about his attempts at recruiting Damian Lillard to Boston before his eventual deal to the Bucks masslive.com/celtics/2023/1… – 2:26 PM
Jeff Goodman @GoodmanHoops
A year ago, Jayson Tatum described this time of year as complete “shock.”
This time Blockbuster Brad made sure it was all about “excitement.”
themessenger.com/sports/boston-… – 10:33 AM
A year ago, Jayson Tatum described this time of year as complete “shock.”
This time Blockbuster Brad made sure it was all about “excitement.”
themessenger.com/sports/boston-… – 10:33 AM
Ball Don’t Lie @Balldontlie
Jayson Tatum said Jrue Holiday is a lethal addition for the Celtics 💀 pic.twitter.com/xDjZtLbk7Y – 7:49 AM
Jayson Tatum said Jrue Holiday is a lethal addition for the Celtics 💀 pic.twitter.com/xDjZtLbk7Y – 7:49 AM
Brian Robb @BrianTRobb
Fun one from media day: Jayson Tatum revealed Paul Pierce dropped nearly 20 pounds as the two spent a chunk of the offseason working out together masslive.com/celtics/2023/1… – 6:01 PM
Fun one from media day: Jayson Tatum revealed Paul Pierce dropped nearly 20 pounds as the two spent a chunk of the offseason working out together masslive.com/celtics/2023/1… – 6:01 PM
More on this storyline
Days after the Lillard-to-Milwaukee trade, the Celtics came with a curveball of their own by procuring Jrue Holiday to be the team’s floor general to combat the Bucks’ new arrival. “I’m extremely happy to have him,” Tatum told B/R. “Jrue’s one of the most well-respected guys in this league. He’s a champion. We won a gold medal together two summers ago. So, I know him pretty well and know he is a hell of a player, a hell of a teammate. “I told him we’re lucky to have him and we’re going to try to get it done.” -via Bleacher Report / October 5, 2023
“I feel like ever since we went to the Finals, [there’s been pressure],” Tatum told B/R. “There are a handful of teams that realistically have a shot to win it. And over the last year or two, we’ve been one of those teams that realistically has a shot. “I don’t know if it’s pressure, but it’s just not taking things for granted by maximizing the opportunity and the talent. Because you’re not always going to be on a team that has a realistic shot. You can’t come in with the mindset that [this window is] going to last forever and we have so much time. “No, we need to approach every season like this is the year we have to make it happen, because you don’t want to take any time for granted.” -via Bleacher Report / October 5, 2023
Jared Weiss: Jayson Tatum was asked how much Joe Mazzulla has been talking about defense so far. “A lot more than last year, thanks to you guys.” -via Twitter @JaredWeissNBA / October 5, 2023