Jayson Tatum had the opportunity to meet Larry Bird, an esteemed figure in Boston Celtics history, during the 2024 NBA All-Star Game in Indiana, marking a memorable moment for the Duke alum.
"I never met Larry Bird… as crazy as that sounds… he told me he was looking forward to meeting me, that was crazy to hear." pic.twitter.com/uhOOIN2qcl
— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2024
Bird, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in Celtics’ lore, dedicated his entire NBA career to the franchise. His impressive stats include averaging 24.3 points, 10.0 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.7 steals, and 0.8 blocks in regular-season games, and 23.8 points, 10.3 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks in playoff contests.
As a Hall of Famer, Bird earned numerous accolades, including 12 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA nods, and three All-Defensive team honors. Throughout his illustrious career, he secured three regular-season MVP awards, three championships, and two Finals MVP titles. Bird’s contributions to the Celtics extend to various franchise records, including triple-doubles, offensive win shares, and value over replacement player.
Notably, Bird’s iconic jersey number 33 hangs in the rafters of the Boston Garden, symbolizing his legendary status with the Celtics.
In contrast, Tatum, drafted by the Celtics as the third overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, is gradually carving his own path to greatness. With impressive averages of 23.0 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.1 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game, Tatum has become a pivotal player for Boston.
Amassing five All-Star appearances, Tatum’s current season statistics stand at 27.1 points, 8.6 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game, along with solid shooting percentages. With the Celtics boasting the best record in the league at 43-12, there’s growing optimism that Tatum, alongside Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, and Kristaps Porzingis, could lead Boston to championship glory.
To cement his legacy as a Celtics icon akin to Bird, Tatum understands the importance of capturing an NBA title, a feat that could solidify his place in Celtics folklore.
