Image Source: X
[Saba Sports News] Jayson Tatum led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title with a standout performance in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday night and had a straightforward message for his critics afterward.
Tatum scored 31 points, dished out 11 assists, and grabbed 8 rebounds in Boston’s 106-88 victory over the Dallas Mavericks at TD Garden. In an on-court interview, when asked how the Celtics met the high expectations, Tatum replied, “What they gonna say now?”
“We have a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot as a team over the last couple years, over my seven years,” Tatum added. “What they gonna say now? What they gonna say now?”
He repeated the phrase in a post on X the following Tuesday. The five-time All-Star echoed a similar sentiment during the Celtics’ afterparty, quoting a Kanye West song.
The Celtics had reached the NBA Finals two years ago but lost to the Golden State Warriors. Last year, they were favorites but fell to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. This raised doubts about whether Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and their teammates could overcome the hurdle. Those doubts have now been laid to rest.
Tatum and his teammates used the criticism they faced as motivation. Brown even shared a saved receipt after their championship victory, showcasing their determination.