LeBron James Praises Jayson Tatum and the Celtics’ Potential Championship Run

In a recent episode of the ‘Mind Your Game’ Podcast with JJ Redick, NBA superstar LeBron James heaped praise on Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics, highlighting Tatum’s remarkable achievements at just 25 years old. James noted Tatum’s four conference finals appearances and one NBA Finals appearance, emphasizing the rarity of such success at a young age in the league.

“He’s 25 years old and I believe he’s been to the conference finals four times, been to the NBA Finals once, he’s 25 years old, I didn’t win my first one until I was 28, I think [Jokic] won his first one at 27, I think [Michael Jordan] was 28 as well. I think we have a lot of expectations on [Tatum], but he’s experienced a lot of winning in his career so far. Obviously, everyone wants to see him get over the hump, but four conference finals and a Finals appearance before the age of 26 is – that’s elite.”

Reflecting on Tatum’s growth and the Celtics’ prospects this season, James expressed optimism about their title chances, citing their strengthened roster with the acquisitions of Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. He lauded Tatum as the Celtics’ primary asset and a key figure in their pursuit of championship glory.

“He continues to grow, and they are in a position to make another title run. And like you said, personnel helps. Add [Kristaps] Porzingis and getting Jrue [Holiday] for a bag of Lay’s potato chips, that helps as well. But when you go and you start scouting for Boston, [Tatum’s] the No. 1 guy, for sure.”

Tatum’s stellar performance this season has solidified his status as one of the NBA’s premier talents, averaging impressive statistics and guiding the Celtics to the league’s best record. Despite being overshadowed by other stars like Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic, Tatum’s remarkable resume speaks for itself, underscoring his importance to the Celtics’ success.

However, James also discussed the Celtics’ loss in the 2022 NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, attributing the defeat to a disparity in basketball IQ rather than talent. While acknowledging the Celtics’ superior roster, James highlighted the Warriors’ strategic intelligence and experience as decisive factors in their triumph.

“There are moments in the game that a coach cannot prepare you for, film can’t prepare you for, and the history of the game can’t prepare you for. Where you have to have a basketball IQ to make adjustments right away… I believe that when Golden State beat Boston, it came down to IQ in the Finals. ‘Cause Boston, to me, had the better talent. Boston had the better talent. But it came down to IQ. People say experience — IQ.”

Tatum’s underwhelming performance in the 2022 Finals prompted criticism from fans, but the Celtics are poised to redeem themselves this season with their formidable lineup. Despite their dominance in the regular season, James cautioned against underestimating the importance of basketball IQ in the playoffs, suggesting that it could determine their postseason fate.

As the Celtics aim for their 18th championship, all eyes will be on Tatum and his teammates as they seek to overcome the challenges ahead and secure their place in NBA history.