The phrase “What’s up, champ?” has taken on a special importance for Jayson Tatum since the Boston Celtics clinched the 2024 NBA championship. For the Celtics forward, hearing these words from his USA Basketball teammates is a reminder of the rarefied air he now breathes.
“The guys who have won championships understand the feeling, what it’s like and what it takes,” Tatum shared with Andscape. “Every time they see me, they say, ‘What’s up, champ?’ It’s definitely good to hear that from your peers.”
Embracing the dual challenge of celebrating a championship and gearing up for the Paris Olympics, Tatum views his tight schedule as a “great problem to have.”
Having logged an impressive 35.7 minutes per game in the regular season and averaging 40.4 minutes per game throughout the playoffs, he has been no stranger to the rigors of an intense basketball season.
The Celtics secured their title on June 17, and just a few weeks later, USA Basketball began its Olympic preparations on July 7. Tatum arrived a day late to address personal matters and finalize his new five-year, $313 million contract, as noted by USA Basketball managing director Grant Hill.
Despite the late start, he has quickly integrated into the team, contributing eight points in 17 minutes during an exhibition win over Canada on July 10 and adding seven points, five assists, and four rebounds in a victory against Australia in Abu Dhabi.
With a roster brimming with talent, the team is set for success without relying too heavily on any single player. Tatum expressed his excitement about being part of this group, acknowledging the need to find his rhythm while contributing where he can.
“It’s definitely going to take some time to get my rhythm and get my legs back under me,” he said. “Mentally, it’s good being back around these guys. You think you’re going to come out here and relax. But as soon as you get back in the gym and lace them up, I want to get back in that mode.”
A veteran of USA Basketball, Tatum’s decorated career includes gold medals from the 2020 Olympics, the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship, the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship, and the 2013 FIBA Americas U16 Championship.
Hill expressed confidence in Tatum’s ability to manage both the physical and mental demands of this summer’s intense schedule. “We knew he’d be ready and he’d be a professional,” Hill remarked. “He’s super-engaged even when he was apart.”
Joining Tatum on the Olympic team are Celtics teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday. White stepped into the roster as a late replacement for Kawhi Leonard, who withdrew due to injury.
Obviously absent from the team is Jaylen Brown, the 2024 NBA Finals MVP, who voiced his disappointment on social media when he was not selected after Leonard’s exit.
Reflecting on the opportunity, Tatum sees the chance to add more “championship DNA” to the team’s makeup. If successful in Paris, Tatum and White will join an elite group of NBA champions who have also won Olympic gold, while Holiday and LeBron James will achieve this feat for a second time. “It would be a hell of a year.
A hell of a summer. I got no complaints,” Tatum concluded. Marc J. Spears is the senior NBA writer for Andscape, known for his in-depth coverage of the league and its stars.