Jayson Tatum knows that championships shape the legacy of Celtics legends. As a 5x NBA All-Star, he has felt the thrill of holding the Larry O’Brien trophy after the Celtics clinched their 18th title last season. It’s no wonder he connects deeply with Boston champions Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. These icons gained fans’ love and respect beyond their Hall of Fame achievements. Their impact in the 2008 NBA Finals solidified that admiration. Now, Tatum is living the life of an icon, and fans eagerly anticipate what he will achieve this season.

Added responsibilities and expectations always follow after a title-winning season. It is a given for the champs to try their best to keep up with their performance through and through. Well, sometimes things don’t work out the way one wants. So, Jayson Tatum is fixating on his second title. Surprised? We hope not. Moreover, Tatum feels happy to have his “footprints” in Celtics lore. But, now it’s time to focus on what’s ahead, that is the 2024/25 season.

Speaking with Andscape, Jayson Tatum shared he felt a mammoth weight lifted after winning the championship. But moving ahead, the 26-year-old is aware that all teams are going to attack them. It’s a no-mercy policy on the other side of the banks. JT expressed: “It’s not time for us to wait for people to attack us. No. What we did last [season] was special. But after ring night, [expletive] that because in a new season, everyone is gunning for us in a championship. We have to get better one game at a time. That was when we were at our best last year. We didn’t skip no steps. We didn’t look past nobody.”

Tatum also recalls the devastation felt after losing to Steph Curry and Co. in the 2022 finals. “The [2022-23 season] we struggled with just wanting to get back to Finals,” he shared. However, it’s never too late for a comeback and that’s exactly what Jayson Tatum and his team did in the 2023/24 season. JT further added: “We only lost 20 games all season, including the playoffs. That was impressive.”

Although Tatum couldn’t clinch the Finals MVP title, his contribution to the game helped the Celtics take over their 18th championship. An average of 22.2 points in the five games of the 2024 Finals surely elevated the team’s status from Finalists to Champions. But, the interesting fact here is how JT’s trail of thoughts merges with coach Joe Mazzulla who also believes that the C’s would be a target for the new season.

Jayson Tatum echoes his coach’s direction for the power-packed season ahead

As reigning champions it is a given that the Boston Celtics would be the main target for the 2024/25 season. However, the Greens and Whites are iron-willed on the fact that a consecutive championship could be possible. Besides, their forward, Jayson Tatum’s approach is aligning with coach Joe Mazzulla. A few months ago, the HC said that he was preparing his boys to become the “target” of the upcoming season.

Well, it seems even JT knows the fact that they’re the prey this time. Moreover, Mazzulla being his honest self had said: “People’s going to say the target’s on our back, but I hope it’s right on our forehead, in between our eyes. I hope I can see the red dot.” Also, being champions eighteen times makes the C’s not just a threat but a goal to acquire.

Can Jayson Tatum and Co. keep up with their record and go another step closer to the 20th title? The possibilities are endless at this point and the boost from the previous season’s achievements could fuel the engine of dreams. And we know, the NBA world often works in mysterious ways, and a lot can happen. So, watch out!