”You have to give up something to win, and I can see it in him.”

Jayson Tatum has been one of the best players in the NBA for years.

In 2023–24, though, the 26-year-old forward took another big step. He led a very good Boston team to the best record in the NBA and made a strong case for league MVP.

Paul Pierce, a legendary Celtics player, has seen Tatum’s progress personally over the past year. Pierce and Tatum worked out together in the summer after Boston’s disappointing exit from the 2023 Eastern Conference Finals. 

Pierce thought Tatum was ready to take his game to a whole new level in 2023–24, even when they were talking outside of the season.

“I saw someone who was driven.” “Very motivated,” Pierce said about the workouts he did with Tatum on “The Truth Lounge.” “I could tell from what he was lifting and how hard he worked that he knows he left something on the table last year.” He plays with a lot more this year—he’s going into your body, making and-ones, and getting to the basket. He’s getting a little more aggressive with his play right now.

In 2022–23, Tatum scored an average of 30.1 points per game. This season, he only scores 27.1 points per game. Some of that is, of course, because Boston added Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday in the off-season.

Pierce thinks that Tatum’s readiness to give up some of his honors and achievements is the most encouraging sign that he is getting better as a whole.

“It has nothing to do with his game. Pierce told Tatum, “His game is going to be his game.” “It starts in your mind. When I changed my mind, I moved on to the next level in my game.”

“He could have 18 points because it’s Porzingis night or J-Brown night.” He doesn’t care about it. Last year, it looked like he would get 30 no matter what. It looks like they said, “Okay, it’s their night, so I’ll give them a little more.” Yes, that’s what it looks like, and you have to do that to win a title.

“You have to give up something to win, and I can see it in him.” Not just him, but all of them.”