Jayson Tatum expressed the Boston Celtics’ hunger for more titles as they gear up to defend their NBA championship when the new season kicks off next month. After years of frustrating near-misses and playoff disappointments, Tatum and the Celtics ended a 16-year title drought in June by securing the franchise’s record-breaking 18th NBA championship.
Speaking at the Celtics’ media day on Tuesday, Tatum emphasized that last season’s victory was just the beginning. “It was never just about trying to win one, right?” Tatum said. “Now, you get to be in the same room with other great Celtics teams and players. All the guys I looked up to growing up won at least one championship. So now it’s about how great you want to be, and what tier you’re aiming for when it’s all said and done.”
Tatum, who also won gold with Team USA at the Paris Olympics, admitted that being champions brought a different feeling going into the new season. “It does feel different being here as a champion, knowing what it takes, and wanting to be on top of the mountain as many times as possible,” he said. “Last year was amazing, and we were an incredible team that made history.”
The Celtics are set to embark on the 2024-2025 campaign with most of last season’s championship-winning roster. Brad Stevens, former head coach and now president of basketball operations, stated that he saw no need to significantly change the squad.
“Usually, I’d consider a tweak or two, as those changes can energize the team,” Stevens said. “But I think these guys are already energized by each other. They have a unique chemistry and deserve the chance to tackle this challenge together.”
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla also noted that the upcoming season would test the team’s “internal motivation.”
“We want to win a championship every single year — that’s the goal, that’s the standard, that’s the expectation,” he said.
“We have to have an open mindset, not a fixed mindset. Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it’s going to work again. That’s the challenge.
“It tests you. Being in a situation like this tests why you do what you do — because you can’t only do it for the good times.
“But I think going through successes and failures kind of tests your internal, intrinsic motivation as to what you’re really going after.”
Boston open the 2024-2025 season against the New York Knicks on October 22.
