A lot of greats usually start slow in their careers. They need ample time for their front offices and squads to figure things out before actually getting accolades. This was not the case for Jayson Tatum. He became part of an astounding Boston Celtics supporting cast immediately when he got drafted in 2017. Eventually, stardom beckoned him along with Jaylen Brown such that both of them could continually make deep NBA Playoffs runs. This Indiana Pacers series gives him the shot to win the 18th banner for his squad but DeMarcus Cousins posits that there's no time to rush.
The pressure on Jayson Tatum
Look, being the primary option on a championship-contending Celtics squad can surely impact one's legacy. However, this does not faze Jayson Tatum at all. He constantly allows other members of Joe Mazzulla's squad like Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis among others to shine. This former Duke Blue Devils star knows when he needs to take a supporting role. But, there is a lot of pressure from Celtics fans, the media, and avid spectators of the league.
DeMarcus Cousins told them to all calm down. He makes it clear that Jayson Tatum should be in no rush despite playing great against the Pacers, via NBA Unplugged with Kevin Hart.
“I don't think he's under any pressure. It's more so the circumstances of the early start to his career. He came in as a young guy & he saw success early. With that being said, I feel like people have kind of gotten bored with his success. I think he's a great young player, we've never really seen him in a losing type of situation. So, that's more so where that pressure starts to creep in,” DeMarcus Cousins said.
His role in the Celtics' runs so far
With Jayson Tatum as a staple of the rotation, the Celtics have been to six Eastern Conference Finals. They have made it to the NBA Finals once but a dynastic Golden State Warriors. DeMarcus Cousins illustrates that the Celtics superstar's success is way more than a lot of great players in the league. This could be where the vitriol and unnecessary chatter when it comes to his legacy comes from.
“At the end of the day, there are guys who have been way longer in the league than this kid and they don't receive this type of pressure. I think he's in a great place in his career, I think he's a winning player. He's done nothing but win since he stepped foot in the league. At this point, he's just gaining experience to get over the hump with winning a championship,” the former NBA All-Star declared.
So far, Tatum has done well in the NBA Playoffs. In their latest win over the Pacers, he played 46 minutes and went 12 for 26 on his shots from all three levels of scoring for 36 points. His all-around style of play was also on display in this matchup. He had 10 rebounds and dropped four assists. The most impressive part was that the Celtics also got three steals because of him.
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