The 5-time NBA All-Star and Celtics champion, Jayson Tatum, has carved a remarkable career. But recently, his success came under fire. 2008 Mr. Basketball USA, Brandon Jennings, stirred up drama by labeling Tatum the “softest superstar in Celtics history.” Fans were left scratching their heads, and former NBA star Quentin Richardson couldn’t stay silent, stepping up to address Jennings’ bold claims.
Richardson shared his thoughts on the Knuckleheads Podcast, firmly disagreeing with Jennings. “I don’t understand why, because he ain’t been nothing but excellent and great since he got in the league,” Richardson remarked. “Been winning since day one, been balling since day one, been putting up numbers since day one, whether people have an opinion about it or not.”
However, Richardson did admit to understanding where Jennings might be coming from. “My little bro is Brandon Jennings. I saw him making some absurd comments… And I understand the context of what some of what BJ talking about.” But despite showing some empathy for Jennings’ perspective, Richardson didn’t hold back. “I still don’t tack that with Jayson. It don’t line up. That’s not accurate,” he added.
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Meanwhile, Jennings hasn’t backed down. The drama continued during a Lakers-Spurs watch party hosted on the Gil’s Arena Playback stream. While chatting with fans, Jennings noticed a framed Tatum jersey hanging on the wall. Never one to hold his tongue, he called it out, telling the streamer Legend of Winning, “You need to take down that #0 jersey ’til he gets a Finals MVP. Go put that in a closet.”
Before the internet could spiral, Jennings clarified his stance. “He’s a great player. I’m not taking that away from his game. He just looks soft.” While his comment had some shaking their heads, it was clear Jennings wasn’t questioning Tatum’s skills—just his playing style. The controversy keeps fueling debates, with more ex-NBA stars sharing their opinion.
Jennings’ “absurd” takes face heat from ex-NBA stars
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It didn’t take long for Brandon Jennings’ “soft” comment about Jayson Tatum to ignite debates, and Kenyon Martin wasn’t about to sit this one out. Martin was quick to challenge Jennings, emphasizing Tatum’s importance to the Celtics. “He played his a– off. They don’t win without him,” Martin argued.
Still, Jennings doubled down on his stance. He insisted that if Tatum was the league’s face or one of its top players, then winning the MVP should’ve been non-negotiable. Jennings even threw shade at Tatum’s limited role during the Olympics, saying his time on the sidelines wasn’t what fans expected from a superstar of his caliber.
But Martin pointed out that winning the Finals is a team effort and that Tatum’s leadership had been essential. “Jaylen Brown did what he was supposed to do in the Finals, but they don’t get there without the guy that made first-team All-NBA,” Martin said.
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Not only that, another ex-NBA star, Jeff Teague, also backed Tatum, saying, “I don’t think he soft at all.”
Teague, however, suggested Jennings might have been trying to say something different. “I think he should have said he [Tatum] is the most polite,” Teague remarked. He added that Tatum’s chill demeanor might explain why Jennings sees him differently. Unlike Celtics legends like Larry Bird or Paul Pierce, Teague noted, “He don’t do that [trash talk].” Now let’s wait and see what’s next for this debate.
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Is Jayson Tatum really the 'softest' superstar, or is Brandon Jennings just stirring the pot?
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Is Jayson Tatum really the 'softest' superstar, or is Brandon Jennings just stirring the pot?
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