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Jayson Tatum will have a different road this time around after coming from a basketball goliath in Duke University to another; the Boston Celtics, who have already cemented a core group prior to his arrival as the third overall pick of this year's NBA Draft.
While a guy of his caliber and athletic prowess can likely merit starting for other NBA teams, the 6-foot-8 Tatum will likely have to come off the bench and earn his stripes during his rookie year to earn some playing time with the C's.
“I know I have to come in here every day and just work,” said Tatum, according to ESPN's Chris Forsberg. “I need to do the small things and do what's best for the team.”
“Most guys in my position don't get drafted to such a high-caliber team like the Celtics, so it makes me work harder because I have to compete and earn everything.”
Tatum only has the body to play at his natural small forward spot as it is right now, but could develop into a stretch-four by adding more muscle over time and tapping into his rebounding and shot-blocking potential with more experience on the floor.
Former rookie Jaylen Brown, now in his second year with the team, noted Tatum's resiliency, having gone through a similar process last season.
“First off, he's really talented and super humble,” Brown said. “Me and him connected a lot because we get along and kind of see things the same way. It's amazing how cool and humble he is. He's very to himself and, at the same time, he's a great kid, great to be around.”
“He just has that mindset that he wants to get better. He competes and sometimes we pick each up other up when we're slacking. That's good because we're just going to keep pushing ourselves to be better and that's what I admire about him. He has that mindset, and not a lot of people in our generation do.”
The Celtics' prospect knows just what's ahead, but will soak in this whole experience through a long 82-game season.
“It means a lot because, at the end of the day, I'm still 19,” said Tatum. “Only 18 months ago, I was in high school. I don't know everything yet. I am growing up, but I still need help along the way.”
