Jayson Tatum is a well-known NBA superstar and a top player on the Celtics roster. He is currently the face of Boston sports and is entering his seventh NBA season.
On Tuesday, Tatum spent his night in New York with former Boston sports great Tom Brady.
Tatum was only 22 years old, and in the middle of his third season, Brady chose to leave New England and sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Even though their careers didn’t overlap for a long time, Tatum noted Wednesday that he’s had a relationship with the Patriots legend for many years.
“I know him very well,” Tatum said during the Celtics shootaround at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday. “I’ve known him since he was with the Patriots. Tom is the best. He has every reason to be arrogant and all those things, but he’s really down to earth.
“He texts me every now and then. He watches the games. He’s a really, really great guy and to be the best football player of all time says a lot about him.”
On Tuesday, Tatum attended a Make-A-Wish event with Brady and Yankees star Aaron Judge at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Tatum, Brady and Judge signed autographs and participated in a workout with nine kids as part of an event hosted in partnership with Fanatics.
“It’s great to be around kids who are obviously facing challenges in their lives but still trying to do it,” Tatum said of the event, Adam Himmelsbach reported Overcome these challenges and be with your friends, family, and brothers and sisters.” boston globe. “Seeing the reaction on their faces when we come out on the court and play basketball with them, play football with them, hang out with them, it’s priceless.”
While Tatum has emerged as one of the NBA’s elite talents, the 25-year-old forward admits he still has a long way to go before reaching Brady’s level in Boston.
Helping the Celtics raise banner No. 18 to the rafters next spring would be a step in the right direction.
“If I get to that level, it would be incredible,” Tatum said Wednesday. “I mean, Tom is the greatest football player of all time and one of the greatest athletes of all time. For myself and everyone who watches him and appreciates him – his mentality, his work ethic , the way he approaches the game — you can apply that to what we do and try to be great.”
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