Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum can’t avoid the harsh criticism that’s followed him throughout his eight-year career.
This time, ex-NBA player Brandon Jennings ranted about Tatum, calling the 26-year-old the “softest Celtics superstar ever.” What began as a question from Jennings on an episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, turned into a heated segment-long debate in which the former nine-year veteran unloaded his unprovoked Tatum attack.
Jennings laid out a doodle scribble-like case that, if anything, suggests there isn’t a bright future in sports commentary for the 35-year-old has-been.
“Yo, is he the softest Boston Celtics superstar ever?” Jennings said on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast. “… What do we know about Boston Celtics players? Like anybody that put on a Boston Celtics jersey from the 80s on up. They what? They cutthroat right?”
Jennings continued: “If you’re so tough, why you didn’t get Finals MVP last year? Why you let your running mate (Jaylen Brown) do it? If you so tough. If you so all this. Why you didn’t get it? Why you didn’t get it?”
Story continues below advertisement
Tatum and Jennings only shared the floor once and that was during the five-time All-Star’s rookie campaign with the Celtics. It was the first round of the 2018 Eastern Conference playoffs (Game 3) between Boston and the Milwaukee Bucks, and Jennings saw just 4:56 minutes of playing time — for the entire series — and scored two points. Tatum scored 14 with five rebounds as the C’s took the series in seven games.
Tatum’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, caught wind of Jennings’ comments and issued an even more harsh response attached with some substance.
“I liked Brandon Jennings as a player but we gotta stop the (cap),” Hanlen published on X Sunday. “His comment that Tatum is “soft” is pathetic. A soft player couldn’t lead their team in points, rebounds & assists to a title. A soft player wouldn’t have 51 (points) in a (Game 7) or 31/11/8 to win finals. For fun, let’s compare.”
Hanlen also attached a graphic of Tatum and Jennings’ career playoff statistics, shining a light on the vast difference.
Story continues below advertisement
Tatum, fresh off signing an NBA-record $315 million extension with the Celtics, has averaged 24 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists across 113 career playoff matchups. Jennings, meanwhile, had to settle for averaging 8.9 points, two rebounds and 2.6 assists before calling it a career in 2018.
Jennings never made an All-Star Game and his closest award notch was finishing third in the running for 2010 Rookie of the Year. Granted, that doesn’t validate or invalidate anyone’s voice at the basketball debate table, however, it does raise an eyebrow when hearing an unreasonable load of hatred pelted toward Tatum.
On track to becoming a six-time All-Star, Tatum’s focus will remain on keeping the Celtics on track amid their defense as NBA champions.
Featured image via Erik Williams/Imagn Images
