It is safe to say that Tatum did not seek nor does he relish the team leader leader position. We can agree that this position was thrust on him unexpectedly.
I don't think that's safe to say at all.
I think the fact that Tatum has scored 50+ points three times, and carried the team to wins in all three of them, says a lot about his willingness to put the team on his back when they need it.
Tatum isn't the most vocal person out there - he's not the type to go around screaming at his teammates. But that doesn't mean he isn't a leader or doesn't relish the leadership role. He's very young and learning what it takes to be a leader, but I thin he's been showing flashes of leadership ability since his rookie year, when he stepped up huge and was instrumental in helping carry the Celtics to the ECF.
If you really pay attention to Tatum, I actually think it seems pretty clear that he greatly desires that leadership role. It's just taking him some time to grow in to it, which is to be expected.
Third, and perhaps most important, Tatum’s personality does not lend itself to leadership in this situation. Because of his mild, shy, and introvert personality, Tatum will most likely defer to the likes of Brown and Smart. He is younger than them, he has less seniority than them, and I am not sure that Brown will admit Tatum has more game than him. It is not surprising that it is Brown and Smart that have scuffled in the locker room, because the exhibit more the alpha male personality. Tatum just doesn’t seem to have the personality to embrace the leadership that was prematurely thrust on him.
Again, I couldn't disagree more.
Not everybody leads the same way. Tim Duncan was also a mild, shy and introverted guy but nobody has ever questioned his leadership ability when he carried the Spurs to numerous championships. Being a leader doesn't always require somebody who is loud, aggressive and egotistical. Sometimes all you need to do in order to earn your teammates respect as their leader is to go out there and show them that when they need it, you're the man who's going to put them on your back and carry them over the line.
I may have missed it, but can someone post anything that shows any player on the Celtics acknowledging Tatum as the leader on this team.
The Cs can take steps to fix this ….
a. Trade Brown and Smart if they do not accept Tatum as the team leader. This is drastic, but Tatum would probably be able to lead younger players that accept his leadership and tenure in the league. Problem is, is he ready to wait for those players to develop.
b. Keep Brown and Smart but name Tatum the team captain, have him present at introductory pressers for new signings, and make other moves and pronouncements that solidify him as the captain.
I don't think any of this is necessary. I haven't seen anybody refer to Tatum as the team leader, but I haven't seen anybody refer to Brown or Smart as the team leader either.
It's important to understand that Tatum and Brown are 23/24 years old. They have only been in the league for like 4 years, and this is really the first year they both emerged as genuine stars. This isn't a Lebron/Wade in Miami situation. These guys are growing together. I think they looked at Horford as their leader in the past. With him gone I think they tried to look to Kemba as that guy - but while Kemba is a true pro, I don't think he's necessarily a leader. So with lack of guidance from him I think they turned to Brad Stevens as a last ditch effort to find their leader - and he just didn't have that gene in him. So the team for much of the year was lost.
But as the season went on I think Tatum realised that SOMEBODY has to carry this team, and he started showing indications that he was ready to be that guy. Next season I think he will cement this much more clearly and I think having Horford back will help in a huge way to lead the way for him on how to take that step from being a upcoming prospect, to being an All-Star, to being a true franchise leader.
Time will tell.