What Jayson Tatum said about facing Steve Kerr, Warriors first time after Olympics benching
"One thing about Jayson is I'm always going to do whatever the (expletive) I want to do and approach things how I want to approach"
Jayson Tatum downplayed the significance of the matchup with the Warriors after the Celtics lost 118-112 at TD Garden Wednesday night.
The Warriors also beat the Celtics in the 2022 NBA Finals. Their coach, Steve Kerr, benched Tatum twice during the Olympics.
Kerr said before the game that he didn’t enjoy benching Tatum, but noted that the team had 12 potential Hall of Famers committed to winning and ultimately reached its goal of capturing a gold medal.
Tatum said he didn’t spend much time thinking about what went on in Paris this summer ahead of the game.
“It wasn’t on my mind,” Tatum said. “Just another Wednesday. Another game, another opportunity to come in and try to be the best player I can be and try to get a win.”
Tatum called the situation difficult and challenging back in September, saying that he wanted to contribute more. Still, those who are looking for a dramatic reaction from him shouldn’t expect one, he said.
“That’s part of this job. That’s what I’ve been dealing with my entire career. People want me to be loud or to be mean or whatever,” Tatum said. “One thing about Jayson is I’m always going to do whatever the (expletive) I want to do and approach things how I want to approach in what I feel is sincere to who I am as a person.
“Not that it comes from a bad place. Sometimes it comes from a good place,” he added. “People react differently, or it’s easy to say if they were in my shoes what they would do. I appreciate when it comes from a good place, but like I said I’m always going to react, respond, approach things the way I want to.”
Tatum said learning how to not care so much about other’s opinions has been helpful as he navigated his NBA career over the years.
“Excuse my language, but it’s just learning how to not give a (expletive),” Tatum said. “I’m very comfortable in my own skin. I’m comfortable with the things I’ve accomplished. I know who I am. I’m comfortable making my own decisions and doing them the way I want to.”
“When you’re younger, maybe you’re very consumed or concerned with pleasing people that you don’t know or things like that. If I do things the way I want to do it, I can live with the result in every situation and that’s where I’m at in my life.”
The Celtics have lost two of their last five games. Tatum credited the Warriors for their physicality.
“I think they just did a good job of being more physical and obviously they were blitzing all of the ball screens I came off,” Tatum said. “We were – I’ll speak for myself – a little rushed in the first half and I think in the second half just accepted it and played with more patience, made the right read more often than not.”
The Celtics could have used a better effort on the defensive end, Tatum said.
“Just some of those 50-50 balls in critical moments, me not inching out on the three from Buddy Hield,” Tatum said. “The airball that they got, the tip-in. I blocked Steph’s shot, they got the loose ball to make the layup. Just in those moments we know we can be better and we have in the past. We just didn’t make enough plays on that end at the end of the game.”
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