Obviously understand what's at stake, and keep going. You just have to keep going, keep playing.
— Jayson Tatum
I got to go to practice one day, shoot around, and rebound for LeBron James. That was still an unreal experience.
It helps being on a good team with a winning culture and just being confident in myself.
It's a lot of fun, especially when you're winning. Playing at home in front of the best fans - doesn't get any better than that.
I remember placing the New Era cap on my head at the 2017 NBA draft - that moment changed my life. I'm excited to be a part of a brand that has a strong sport heritage and look forward to being a part of their history.
Once you get to the tournament, it's like, win or go home.
I just try to stay in my little circle. And I don't try to do too much. And when my opportunity comes, I just try to make the most of it.
All good players have to do that, to learn how to get better throughout the season. Just really work on my body. Just try to stay healthy and be stronger. Just try to get bigger.
I dreamed of having big moments and having a big role. That obviously came a lot sooner than I thought.
I grew up watching LeBron and asking him to follow me back on Twitter, going to his camps. So just to be able to compete against a player like him and be a few shots away from beating him and his team to go to a championship is something I will always remember.
You gotta have confidence in yourself first before anybody else will. I've always had that.
There's no greater feeling, I would imagine, than winning a national championship in that one year and then hopefully going to the NBA.
The Single Mothers Program is something I would love to start if I'm fortunate enough to make it to the NBA and things like that.
It feels great just finally knowing where I'm going and have some place to call home. And I'm glad it's Boston.
I don't have anything to eat in my house but chips and Gatorade.
At the end of the day, we all want to win, so everybody has to sacrifice when you want to be a part of something special.
All I used to want to do was shoot fadeaways like Kobe because he was my favorite player.
Every since I started playing basketball, I wanted to be just like Kobe. To get to see him play in person, and to meet him, was just a dream come true.
The playoffs bring the best out of people.
You've just got to bring it every night. And that's what makes the great players great.
I guess people looked at me in college, said I couldn't shoot or play defense. I proved them wrong.
I don't think I really like going to class that much.
You've just got to go out there and make the right play.
I feel like when I'm out there, I'm on the court, I just try to figure it out.
I used to watch LeBron on TV growing up, and now I'm playing my first game against him.
I think that's when I have the most fun: when things are on the line.
I want to be the next Paul Pierce.
If somebody was to ask me who is the best rookie, I would tell them I was.
No matter what team you're playing for, the ultimate goal is to be the last team standing.
Because I grew up in a single parent home with my mom, growing up, things weren't always the best.
It's been a dream come true, you know, just making it to the NBA and being drafted by a great franchise like Boston.
School was very important. But I needed to watch basketball.
Each person's workout is really different. It's tailored to be what's most needed for them. Everybody's different.
The Celtics were always going to pick me No. 1, but Philly didn't know that.
Meeting Kobe, it was of the greatest feelings ever.
Just keep having fun. It's basketball. So that's what I'm going to keep doing.
I didn't expect this - to be 19, be a rookie, playing this much and having a kid. It's a lot, but, I mean, I'm enjoying it.
I gained, like, 20 pounds in, like, two and a half, three weeks. So I just got too big too fast, and my body wasn't adjusted to that.
Every time I shoot, I think it's going in. I get upset when it doesn't.
You work all season to earn the trust of your teammates and the coaching staff.
Guys are going to be physical, especially with me being the young guy. That tends to happen a lot. It's just guys trying to be stronger and bigger than me, so they're just trying to be more physical.
I've been watching Kobe ever since I can remember.
I just enjoy playing in the big moments, in the big games.
Anytime I play another rookie, there's that extra edge.
Talent level, I feel like if I'm not the best, I'm one or two. I think it's just opportunity, the situation that you're in, and who's on your team. I think I've done all right.
My parents are supportive of me, whatever school I go to.
I'm the biggest mama's boy ever, and I'm proud to say it.
I still think it's mind-blowing when famous people know who I am.
Man, I'm always going to back up my teammates.
Growing up with videos and YouTube, being able to see content from the '90s - music and games - that really helped me stay connected with the time before me.
