Jayson Tatum Lost For Words Following Celtics’ Championship

Jayson Tatum Lost For Words Following Celtics' Championship

ixteen years to the day since the 2007-08 Celtics secured the franchise’s 17th championship — the C’s won their 18th title on Monday night.

Jayson Tatum led all scorers in Game 5 with 31 points. He is the first Celtics player with at least 20 points, 10 assists and five rebounds in a Finals game since Larry Bird in 1986.

After the final buzzer, Tatum was at a loss for words when he spoke with ESPN’s Lisa Salters.

“Oh my God. Oh my God,” Tatum said, as seen on ABC’s postgame coverage. “It’s a surreal feeling. We did it. We did it! Oh my God, we did it.”

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Tatum left the game with 1:21 left to play in the fourth quarter, with the Celtics up 20 points, 106-86, so he could celebrate on the bench with his teammates.

“First of all, God is the greatest. Not because we won, but he put me in positions to maximize my God-given ability,” Tatum said. “To surround me with these guys, my family. This is an incredible feeling. I’m at a loss for words. I’m sorry.”

After getting blown out in Game 4, Tatum said that game definitely impacted the way the Celtics came out for Game 5 and also called out the negative narrative he’s heard throughout his career.

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“We responded all year, and this was no different,” Tatum explained. “We owed our crowd out there. This has been a long journey.”

Tatum added: “We have a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot in the last couple, over the last several years. What they gonna say now?”

After years of hearing he wasn’t good enough to lead the Celtics to a title, Jayson Tatum is an NBA champion.