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[Saba Sports News] Jayson Tatum recently offered some revealing insight into Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.
During Celtics Media Day on Tuesday at the Auerbach Center, Tatum mentioned that he stayed in close contact with Mazzulla throughout the offseason. He also gave a glimpse into how Mazzulla thinks.
“I talked to Joe a lot,” Tatum shared, via The Athletic’s Jared Weiss. “Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didn’t win Finals MVP and missed two Olympic games. It was odd, but if you know Joe, it makes sense.”
Though Tatum was a key player in the Celtics’ 2023-24 championship run, it was Jaylen Brown who won Finals MVP, sparking some conversation about Tatum’s lack of individual awards. Similar talk emerged after Tatum struggled and was benched by Team USA’s Steve Kerr at the Paris Olympics.
Mazzulla seems to believe these offseason challenges will keep Tatum motivated as the Celtics aim to defend their title. Tatum’s comments align with Mazzulla’s quirky reputation off the court.