What Kevin Garnett Did To Jayson Tatum During Celtics Ring Ceremony
Tatum learned Garnett hasn't lost his intensity
BOSTON — There were plenty of moments that stood out to Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum on Tuesday night.
There was getting his massive NBA championship ring and helping his teammates raise a banner to the TD Garden rafters, where their accomplishment will forever be enshrined. And there was also the chance for Tatum to catch up with Celtics legends of the past.
Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were a part of the festivities, metaphorically passing the torch to the new generation of Celtics stars. Tatum got to chat up the “Big Three” before the pregame ceremony began and Tatum revealed during his behind-the-scenes encounter with Garnett that the 2008 Celtics champion hasn’t lost any of his trademark intensity he used to play with on the famed parquet.
“That was an incredible moment, dapping it up with them,” Tatum said following Boston’s one-sided win over the New York Knicks. “And KG was screaming in my ear. And it’s just like, ‘Man, I’m really talking to Kevin Garnett right now.’ I never take those moments for granted. I think that (expletive) is still cool to be a part of things like that.”
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Tatum’s interaction with Bob Cousy was much different. The 96-year-old Hall of Famer didn’t have the same fierceness as Garnett.
But Tatum has just as much respect, or even more, for Cousy, who won six titles during his playing career with the Celtics. Cousy stuck to his word and was in attendance for the celebratory night. He’s not seen at Celtics games often anymore, so Cousy’s presence generated a tremendous amount of energy from the crowd when he was introduced.
“He’s like one of the first Celtics, NBA legends at that,” Tatum said. “I got to shake his hands. He said some kind words to me. I mean, he’s a legend. He came out in a wheelchair, deuces up and everybody went crazy. That really said it all. I got to meet and take a picture with Bob Cousy. That’s something that will live forever I hope.”
Perhaps parts of Garnett and Cousy rubbed off on Tatum because he turned in a stellar performance in a 132-109 win for the Celtics. Tatum netted a game-high 37 points off a pristine 14-for-18 shooting from the field, including knocking down 8-of-11 3-pointers.
Tatum became the first player in franchise history to score at least 36 points and record 10 assists while shooting at least 75%, according to Celtics statistician Dick Lipe.
That’s pretty legendary.
