The defending champion Boston Celtics faced a lot of pressure heading into Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. After stumbling in Games 1 and 2 against the New York Knicks, the spotlight fell heavily on Jayson Tatum, whose underwhelming performances led to a wave of criticism.
But on Saturday, both Tatum and the Celtics answered the doubters. The team rallied for a much-needed 115-93 win. In the post-game press conference, Tatum opened up about the challenges that come with being the leader of a championship-caliber team.
“You just understand what comes with being that guy. I live a great life; I make a lot of money, I take care of my family, I’ve been able to experience a lot of things, but you also have to accept what comes with that, right? I get a lot of praise; I get a lot of credit; I get a lot of accolades,” Taum said.
Jayson Tatum says there’s a lot that comes with being ‘that guy’:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 10, 2025
“I live a great life. I make a lot of money… But I'm not perfect. There's times I've needed to play better… That's what comes with being that guy.”
(via @NBA_NewYork)pic.twitter.com/yUFsca9mD2
“But I’m not perfect, and there are times where I’ve needed to play better. I’ve needed to do more. And that comes with being that guy. So, just understand that, and people just don’t criticize me,” he added.
Tatum backed up his words with a strong performance. He recorded 22 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, and two steals while going 5-for-9 from beyond the arc. His bounce-back game was critical in lifting Boston to their first win of the series.
Jayson Tatum Reflects On Staying Level-Headed Through Adversity
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In his post-game comments, Tatum also spoke about mindset and maturity. He stated that while it’s easy to let frustration take over during tough times, it’s essential to stay balanced and true to oneself.
“Coming into a game with an angry face and mad at the world, that’s not who I am. That’s not when I play my best. You gotta be the same person when things are going great & when things aren’t going great. You can’t switch up. That’s the character of a good man,” Tatum said.
Following their victory, the Celtics now trail 1-2 in the conference semifinals. Game 4 between the Knicks and Celtics is set for Monday.
