As Jayson Tatum faced setbacks in missing out on the Finals MVP award and being benched during the Olympics, his coach, Joe Mazzulla, saw it as an opportunity for motivation. Despite these challenges, Tatum remained determined and shared his thoughts at the Boston Celtics media day.
The Celtics secured Tatum’s first NBA championship in June, but the Finals MVP title went to Jaylen Brown. Additionally, Tatum experienced two DNP-CDs in the Olympics under Steve Kerr’s surprising decision. Despite this, Mazzulla believes these experiences will ignite Tatum’s drive.
Tatum acknowledged the unique circumstances and highlighted the positives of winning a gold medal and being surrounded by basketball legends at the Olympics. He also mentioned the mechanical adjustments he made to improve his shooting performance after struggling during the postseason and Olympics.
Teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday also celebrated Olympic gold alongside Tatum. Meanwhile, Brown, who missed out on the Olympic roster, expressed his motivation to prove himself this season after earning accolades in the previous playoffs.
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(Image: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images)
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