Jayson Tatum’s wild message to Celtics haters after 2024 championship win

Banner 18 has just become a reality. On Monday, the Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks to cement themselves as NBA champions after 16 years. It was the first title for most of the team, including Jayson Tatum. This is exactly why the attacker was as ecstatic as possible after winning a token. During one of the post-match interviews, Tatum let his emotions out with a statement aimed at all the naysayers.

“What are they going to say now?!” What are they going to say now?!’” Tatum said, amid all the celebrations.

Jayson Tatum leads the way in Game 5

After being criticized by fans for his performances in the first two games of the Finals, Tatum showed the world why he is a superstar. In the third game, the 26-year-old finished with 31 points in front of a jeering American Airlines Center. The Celtics may have fallen in Game 4, but the stars finally aligned for the green and white on Monday, and Jayson Tatum’s performance led the way.

In Game 5, he had 31 points (again), 11 rebounds and eight assists for a near triple-double. Tatum was aggressive throughout the game, attacking the basket relentlessly for layups while setting up his teammates when the defense collapsed inside.

And luckily for him, everyone was on fire. The Celtics made 10 threes in the first half. Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Sam Hauser were all making their attempts from deep. At halftime, the lead reached 21 points.

The Celtics would never look back. They continued their smooth offense and aggressive defense throughout the next two quarters. In the fourth period, Tatum scored 11 points, ensuring that Boston would once again become a city of champions.

The Celtics were simply unstoppable as a team

Looking at the numbers, it was a team effort. Brown finished the game with 21 points and eight rebounds, winning the NBA Finals MVP with his consistent play throughout the series. Jrue Holiday had a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds, putting on another quality two-way show. White made four three-pointers for 14 points and also added eight rebounds.

It was visible how much the Celtics wanted more on Monday. They cruised past Dallas, 51-35. White and Holiday, in particular, showed why they are one of the most scrappy backcourts in the league. Although they are both 6-foot-4, they managed to grab four offensive rebounds (each) against the Mavericks. In fact, White even suffered a chipped tooth during a dive with a loose ball.

Throughout the year, the pressure was on Boston to win it all. They had the best record in the league, and anything less than a title was considered a failure. On June 17, the day the 2008 banner was won, Jayson Tatum and the Celtics lived up to expectations by winning the crown once and for all.