LeBron James is leaving behind a legacy and accolades that have never been achieved before. In sports, comparisons between legends and young stars are really common, which raises expectations for the new generation to reach a level where they can influence players and set new records themselves.
James has some words for Celtics star Jason Tatum, where he compares his legacy with Tatum and speaks about how he is set to have a bright future in the league, achieve many goals, and leave a legacy of his own.
Lebron James highly praises Jayson Tatum
In James’ latest venture as a podcaster, along with former NBA player JJ Redick, James praises Boston Celtics star player Jason Tatum. James talks about Tatum’s game and how he impresses the king with his ability to win games at an early stage of his career. The fact that Tatum is just 26 years old and has already appeared in 4 conference finals and one NBA final impresses James the most.
James was 28 when he first won his conference finals, and so was Michael Jordan. Tatum is moving towards a similar path as James, and with his current pace and consistency, he’s said to have a promising career as a professional.
LeBron James with some very high praise for Jayson Tatum.
— JTMuse (@TatumMuse) March 19, 2024
Recognizing greatness! 🔥🫡☘️ pic.twitter.com/qxse6Sx1cx
James is certain about Tatum’s future, and with his consistency in the league, he will overcome the loss he faced during the 2022 finals and win a championship.
Lebron James on Jayson Tatum (via @mindthegamepod):
— HOOPS EMPIRE (@HoopsEmpire_) March 19, 2024
“He’s 25 and has been to four conference finals, and one finals. I didn’t win my first one until I was 28. Joker won his first at 27. MJ was 28 as well.
We have a lot of expectations on JT, but he’s experienced a lot of… pic.twitter.com/FeDo2IIphx
LeBron James reveals why the Celtics lost the 2022 NBA Finals
According to James, the Boston Celtics had better talent during the 2022 NBA finals; the only difference was the basketball IQ between the two teams. While the Celtics relied on their talent, the Golden State Warriors took the series over with their experience and better IQ.
“There’s moments in the game that a coach cannot prepare you for, film can’t prepare you for, the history of the game can’t prepare you for, where you have to have a basketball IQ to make adjustments right away. I believe that when Golden State beat Boston, it came down to IQ in the Finals. ‘Cause Boston, to me, had the better talent. Boston had the better talent. But it came down to IQ. People say experience — IQ.” said James in the podcast.
LeBron James said the Celtics lost to the Warriors in the Finals in 2022 because of IQ, but JJ Redick explains how he’s seen growth from Jayson Tatum in that regard:
— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzellNBA) March 19, 2024
“It feels like with him, the reads are quicker. Making the right play is just quicker.”
(Via @mindthegamepod) pic.twitter.com/gXP8HvRrza
The young Celtics core was inexperienced during that time, while the Warriors had plenty of finals experience in 2022; hence, they made a comeback despite being down 2-1 in the series and ended up winning. But this isn’t the case anymore for the Celtics, as the stars have the required experience and mentality to win.
The Celtics are the most likely to win a championship this season, with the best record in the NBA, leading both conferences, and entering the playoffs with a winning mentality.
