The Boston Celtics coach, in a recent statement, addressed the situation of his star player being benched during the Team USA games against Serbia in Paris. He expressed his thoughts on the matter, highlighting the importance of having something to work towards in order to maintain hunger and drive for success. “So I thought it was great that he has something to work toward. Sometimes when you get success, you don’t have that next hunger right in front of you. Sometimes you’ve gotta wait for it. Sometimes it’s a loss, sometimes it’s a losing streak. He was able to get that right in front of him. So I just thought it was a gift.”
The star player, Tatum, who is a five-time All-Star and was named to his fourth All-NBA team last season, had a solid regular season performance but struggled with his three-point shooting in the playoffs. Despite excelling in other aspects of his game, he faced criticism for his shooting leading up to the NBA Finals. Tatum also missed out on the NBA Finals MVP and was subsequently benched for coaching reasons during the Team USA games in Paris.
Now, Tatum has a new challenge to work towards as he embarks on his journey to win a second NBA title. “As his coach and as somebody that really cares about him, I just thought it was great because it gives him something to work toward for the rest of his career,” Mazzulla said.
With the start of training camp approaching for the Celtics, the team is gearing up for the upcoming season with high expectations. Tatum will play a crucial role in helping Boston reach their goals in 2024. The road to the NBA Finals won’t be easy, but with Tatum’s renewed motivation and determination, the Celtics have a strong chance of making a deep postseason run.
