Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Unveils Celebratory Championship Tattoo

The Boston Celtics begin their 2024-25 training camp next Tuesday but Jayson Tatum, fresh off signing the NBA's historically largest contract ($315 million) extension, arrived at Auerbach Center early on Friday -- and with new ink.

Tatum debuted a new back tattoo, featuring an image of the 26-year-old clutching the Larry O'Brien Trophy and sporting Boston's 2024 NBA championship hat. The image mirrored Tatum's locker room emotions and reaction after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in Game 5 of the NBA Finals at TD Garden to seize Boston's record-setting 18th title, the long-awaited night that capped off a career year for the five-time All-Star.

Boston's co-leader averaged 26.9 points with 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists on 47.1% shooting from the field -- Tatum's highest mark since his rookie year in 2017-18 -- and 37.6% from 3-point range. Tatum finished sixth in the MVP vote and ninth for Clutch Player of the Year, but was named to the All-NBA First Team. It was universally known that with Boston welcoming in offseason acquisitions Kristaps Porzingis and Jrue Holiday the Celtics wouldn't rely solely on Tatum to chase career-high scoring figures, but instead lean on the depth team president of basketball operations Brad Stevens worked tirelessly to provide. From Opening Night, the Celtics bulldozed the rest of the league.

"We had a hell of a team last year," Tatum told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in August. "They were so fun to be a part of that journey that we had, how we kind of dominated in the regular season and went 16-3 in the playoffs. It looked like it was easy, but it wasn't. It was hard. It's exciting to be able to run it back. We have the same team coming back. We're even more motivated to win another one so let's see what we can do."

Tatum spent the summer chasing another title. He joined USA Basketball, playing alongside LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant and Celtics teammates Jrue Holiday and Derrick White, although the experience was humbling. Team USA head coach Steve Kerr failed to utilize Tatum beyond 17.7 minutes per contest with two DNPs, spoiling Tatum's shot at making a difference in the journey to a gold medal victory over Team France. The lack of respect challenged Tatum and even caused Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla to pay him a check-in visit in Paris, but it also supplied fuel for Boston to avoid falling content as the NBA's reigning champions this upcoming season.

In just 32 days, Tatum will receive his first championship ring on Oct. 22 to open up 2024-25 season against the New York Knicks.