Jayson Tatum recently shared his initial reaction to being drafted by the Celtics in 2017, especially after Boston signed Gordon Hayward. Tatum revealed he was concerned about his role on the team and even considered requesting a trade.
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum recently opened up about his draft-day anxieties during an appearance on the Club 520 podcast.
Tatum, who was drafted 3rd overall by the Celtics in 2017, shared his initial concerns about his role on the team, especially when Boston signed forward Gordon Hayward the same summer.
The unexpected addition of a high-profile player led Tatum to question whether he would see substantial playing time, leading him to consider a trade.
“I get drafted, and Gordon Hayward signed with the Celtics. I called my agent, like, yo, I gotta get traded,” Tatum recounted.
His agent, however, reassured him to stay calm and be patient. “He was like, yo, just, like, you’re in a great organization. They’re gonna teach you how to play right away,” Tatum explained, revealing that his agent urged him to wait it out and trust the Celtics’ development system.
Despite Tatum’s eagerness to start immediately, he acknowledged feeling frustrated. “I'm like, yo, I'm trying to play. I didn't get drafted to come off the bench and not start,” Tatum recalled during the podcast.
His agent’s advice ultimately helped him gain perspective, emphasizing the opportunity to learn from a well-established organization with a strong developmental culture.
Since that pivotal rookie season, Tatum has emerged as one of Boston’s cornerstone players and one of the NBA’s brightest stars.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 30.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and an efficiency rating of 29.9 this season.
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