Celtics' Jayson Tatum says Joe Mazzulla was ‘probably the happiest person’ with Olympic benching

BOSTON Missing out on the Finals MVP award and getting benched in the Olympics must have been challenging for Jayson Tatum to handle.

Still, he said Tuesday morning, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla loved to see the All-NBA forward gifted potential sources of motivation.

Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didnt win Finals MVP and that I didnt play in two of the games in the Olympics, Tatum said at the Celtics media day.

So, that was odd, but if you know Joe it makes sense.

Jayson Tatum: I talked to Joe a lot.

Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I didnt win Finals MVP and I didnt play in two of the games at the Olympics.

That was odd.

But if you know Joe, it makes sense.

Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 24, 2024 The Celtics won Tatums first NBA championship in June by beating the Dallas Mavericks in five games, but the Finals MVP award went to Jaylen Brown .

Tatum later captured an Olympic gold medal with Team USA, but received two DNP-CDs (did not play due to coachs decision) during the tournament.

Steve Kerrs decision to bench Tatum was surprising given the 26-year-olds pedigree.

Mazzulla must believe the experiences will motivate Tatum.

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Did I need any motivation coming into the season? Tatum said.

No.

Im not going to give anybody in particular credit that that motivated me to come into the season.

It was a unique circumstance, something I (hadnt) experienced before in my playing career, but Im a believer that everything happens for a reason.

I was coming off a championship, the highest of the highs, the cover of 2K and a new contract, and then that happened.

Advertisement And whatever the reason is, I havent figured out yet, but I am a believer that everything does happen for a reason.

But it was a good experience.

We won a gold medal, I won my second one.

I was around some of the best players ever to play the game on a daily basis, built some friendships and was able to bring my family out there and enjoy the Olympics as a whole.

So that was a plus for me for sure.

Boston teammates Derrick White and Jrue Holiday also won gold medals with Team USA.

Like Tatum, Brown could potentially use the Olympics as fuel.

Coming off a playoff run during which he earned the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and the Finals MVP, Brown was passed over for a spot on the Olympic roster even after Kawhi Leonard left the team over the summer.

Brown laughed when the first question for him on media day addressed the snub.

Goddamn, Brown said.

We cant warm up a little? S.

Brown proceeded to suggest he kept the decision in mind over the offseason.

Im extremely motivated for obvious reasons, Brown said, and Im ready to get after it.

Im ready to go, he added.

Im excited about being back.

The past is the past but Im ready to get after it, lead our guys, get the guys, build some team chemistry, not skip any steps and just set the tone for another year again.

Required reading (Photo: Maddie Malhotra / Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.