Celtics

‘They gotta go through us’: What Jayson Tatum said of fellow Eastern Conference contenders’ moves

"When you win a championship, you get to talk how you want to talk, respectfully."

By Conor Roche

July 13, 2024

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The 76ers and Knicks made a pair of big splashes in the offseason to try and bridge the gap with the Celtics, but Jayson Tatum still believes the East runs through Boston after winning the title.

In an interview on “7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony & The Kid Mero,” the Celtics star said he has respect for his competition following the moves they made this offseason. However, Tatum also believes that winning a championship allows him to carry a certain amount of confidence.

“It’s two-fold,” Tatum said when asked about the 76ers’ and Knicks’ moves. “I see all the changes and people switching teams. Obviously, teams is getting better. But that’s every offseason. You’ve go to have an appropriate fear or respect for your opponent. Like, you don’t ever want to disrespect who you’re playing.

“But with that being said, we won. Like, when you win a championship, you get to talk how you want to talk, respectfully. They’ve got to go through us.”

The 76ers, who’ve consistently been among the East’s best teams since Tatum arrived in Boston, added Paul George in free agency to form a star trio with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey. They also re-signed Kelly Oubre and added Caleb Martin, Andre Drummond, and Eric Gordon to help fortify their rotation.

Meanwhile, the Knicks traded five first-round picks and a first-round pick swap to get Mikal Bridges from the Nets. The forward has been highly touted for his two-way ability over the years, averaging 19.6 points per game last season and finishing in second in Defensive Player of the Year voting with the Suns in 2022. They also re-signed standout wing OG Anunoby and extended star guard Jalen Brunson to a deal that many believe is well below his market value.

While the moves by the 76ers and Knicks have been widely praised, many still view the Celtics as the clear favorites. Several ESPN analysts recently called Boston the class of the conference and the Celtics’ odds to win the NBA title are at +295. No other team has odds better than +800 to win the title.

For Celtics fans who’ve followed Tatum throughout his carry, some might view his proclamation that the rest of the league has “got to go through us” as a bit out of character due to his reserved nature. Anthony told Tatum he wanted to see more of those sort of statements though from him.

“I want more of that from you because … you won. You did it,” Anthony said. “OK, [you] broke the ice, [you’re] in the door, and at a different level when it comes to a small group of people who’ve done it. So, you sit differently. This is my honest opinion and observation, we want to see you more take on that role of, ‘I’m here.'”

Tatum acknowledged what Anthony was saying. But he said he didn’t want to be inauthentic, even when people have criticized him for not be outwardly vocal enough.

“I see it all the time, ‘He’s not demonstrative enough, he don’t yell enough, he’s not as loud as the other guys that we like watching.’ Part of it is like, I am who I am. I’ve always been a laid-back person,” Tatum said. “I’m not the loudest person in the room. But it was frustrating because I felt like some people would take that and take jabs at my game. The game and me yelling ain’t got nothing to do with it.

“And I get it. I’m nothing like Kevin Garnett. I used to love watching KG play. I liked the [expletive] talking. But that’s not who I am. I’m not going to be someone that I’m not.”

Now that he’s won a title though, Tatum might carry a different chip on his shoulder.

“There is a different feeling of like, I always felt like I was one of the best or the best players in the league, especially the last couple of years. But it was always a debate,” Tatum said. “Now, it’s like, [expletive] that. I just won. I did what y’all said I couldn’t do. So yeah, I’m not in that same conversation no more. I’m in a different room. I did the things that only a few people have ever done.

“So, I definitely feel differently because y’all can’t debate that. I won. Y’all can’t argue with winning a championship.”