Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum wasn’t trying to throw shade at the Memphis Grizzlies when he was discussing his own career on a recent episode of the The Pivot podcast, but it sort of hilariously worked out that way.
In describing everything that he’s accomplished already, the 27-year-old wing said that he’d have a statue outside of the Grizzlies’ arena if he had played his entire career in Memphis so far.
Tatum’s 2024-25 NBA season marked a peak in his individual performance, as he averaged 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists over 72 games, earning his sixth All-Star selection and fourth consecutive All-NBA First Team honor. The Celtics, seeded second in the East, advanced past the Orlando Magic in the first round but fell to the New York Knicks in the conference semifinals (in which Tatum tore his Achilles), ending their title defense.
Over his career, Tatum has evolved into one of the league’s elite forwards since being drafted third overall by the Celtics in 2017 after a standout freshman year at Duke. He led Boston to the 2024 NBA championship, captured All-Star Game MVP in 2023, and secured Olympic gold medals in 2020 and 2024.
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He signed a five-year, $314 million extension in 2024. As of January 2026, Tatum continues rehab, with recent workouts showing progress toward a potential return later this year, though no exact timeline exists.
Featured image via Petre Thomas/Imagn Images
