Tatum talks about leadership, takes shot at JB

[rondohondo]

Being a leader doesn't mean you know it all, right? I don't know it all," Tatum said. "I'll be the first person to say that. Being a leader is being comfortable with raising your hand like, I don't know. Can you explain that to me? I don't know X, Y, and Z. I want to learn. Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don't want to be around that person. I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to learn from somebody else.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-jayson-tatum-details-leadership-231001299.html

Certainly sounds like he's talking about JB...

[Neurotic Guy]

Being a leader doesn't mean you know it all, right? I don't know it all," Tatum said. "I'll be the first person to say that. Being a leader is being comfortable with raising your hand like, I don't know. Can you explain that to me? I don't know X, Y, and Z. I want to learn. Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don't want to be around that person. I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to learn from somebody else.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-jayson-tatum-details-leadership-231001299.html

Certainly sounds like he's talking about JB...

Maybe. But what comes through most to me from the post is that JT may not be the kind of leader the Celtics need. I love the guy and am 100% on board with him being a learner. But being a leader for this team I do think requires a very high confidence level and an ability to have answers not just questions. JB may have been delusional but his self-assuredness may well have been a positive when leading the young Celtics players last season. 

[rondohondo]

Being a leader doesn't mean you know it all, right? I don't know it all," Tatum said. "I'll be the first person to say that. Being a leader is being comfortable with raising your hand like, I don't know. Can you explain that to me? I don't know X, Y, and Z. I want to learn. Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don't want to be around that person. I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to learn from somebody else.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-jayson-tatum-details-leadership-231001299.html

Certainly sounds like he's talking about JB...

Maybe. But what comes through most to me from the post is that JT may not be the kind of leader the Celtics need. I love the guy and am 100% on board with him being a learner. But being a leader for this team I do think requires a very high confidence level and an ability to have answers not just questions. JB may have been delusional but his self-assuredness may well have been a positive when leading the young Celtics players last season.

Jokic will fill that role eventually 

[Yuckabuck33]

The way JB was treated by much of the fan base, the rules have been set on how to take this: it can only be read in the worst way possible.
JT was absolutely dogging JB. He has always hated and been jealous of JB since his rookie year. People said it was his team, but he knows he always had to share the spotlight with JB, who was more athletic and had more impact and success off the court. JT is selfish and wanted JB gone so he can win as the clear #1. He is delusional about how he couldn't have won as much without JB. He has a huge ego and is never happy, taking for granted being a part of the winningest duo in NBA history.
How'd I do?

[Roy H.]

Sounds like he was addressing perceived deficiencies in his own leadership, not JB's.

Or, maybe he just decided that a youth camp was the right venue to start drama.

[Neurotic Guy]

The way JB was treated by much of the fan base, the rules have been set on how to take this: it can only be read in the worst way possible.
JT was absolutely dogging JB. He has always hated and been jealous of JB since his rookie year. People said it was his team, but he knows he always had to share the spotlight with JB, who was more athletic and had more impact and success off the court. JT is selfish and wanted JB gone so he can win as the clear #1. He is delusional about how he couldn't have won as much without JB. He has a huge ego and is never happy, taking for granted being a part of the winningest duo in NBA history.
How'd I do?

Took me a few reads to get it, but you did very well.

[smicker16]

I believe JT is too cautious for this to be a shot at JB.

However it is clear that the two of them are not the best of friends. I do not think they need to be but you do have to wonder if this season things started to trickle into the locker room.

We will never know but I do think things got worse this year. It was bound to happen eventually. Glad we had them together for as long as we did.

[Atzar]

For the record, I thought Tatum had a role in Brown?s departure even before these comments.

[jambr380]

Tatum suffered a career threatening injury and Brown calls it his favorite season. I don't know if this was a direct shot, but I can't blame Tatum if it was.

Maybe Tatum had a hand in getting Brown moved, but more likely, I don't think Stevens thought those two could work together again after Brown got a taste of being the #1. And if that contract extension wasn't offered, there was a real possibility of things going sour quickly. The team won a championship, but it's likely with salary constraints, Stevens thought that those two making 70% of the cap weren't getting there again.

[SparzWizard]

Shot or not, from a basketball standpoint both these guys cannot coexist on the same team as they're redundant. 2024 was the outlier year because we had Jrue and White playing at exceptional levels and Kristaps being available netting us 60+ wins. Also lucked out with a cakewalk Eastern Conference and drawing the Mavs in the Finals.

For me, Brown was the one that had to go...has no handles, poor free-throw shooter, no team defense, and disappears in the playoffs when he preaches about being the No. 1 guy.

For all we know though, it's probably just a whole bunch of nothing and clickbaits by the media

[SparzWizard]

Tatum suffered a career threatening injury and Brown calls it his favorite season. I don't know if this was a direct shot, but I can't blame Tatum if it was.

Maybe Tatum had a hand in getting Brown moved, but more likely, I don't think Stevens thought those two could work together again after Brown got a taste of being the #1. And if that contract extension wasn't offered, there was a real possibility of things going sour quickly. The team won a championship, but it's likely with salary constraints, Stevens thought that those two making 70% of the cap weren't getting there again.

See, I won't blame JT at all if this was implied as a shot. JB threw a shot at JT with his silly comments right after losing Game 7 calling it his favorite season.

[ozgod]

Sounds like he was addressing perceived deficiencies in his own leadership, not JB's.

Or, maybe he just decided that a youth camp was the right venue to start drama.

This was also my take. But of course everyone will jump on the "smartest person in the room" comment. Apophenia is strong 

I'm guessing people will still be either looking to put a wedge between them or look for evidence they hated each other years after they've retired 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

sounds like he is smart enough to know he does not know it all and never will and need an open mind to stay learning. 

joe mazz should take notice.

[keevsnick]

Being a leader doesn't mean you know it all, right? I don't know it all," Tatum said. "I'll be the first person to say that. Being a leader is being comfortable with raising your hand like, I don't know. Can you explain that to me? I don't know X, Y, and Z. I want to learn. Being around somebody that feels like they know it all, I don't want to be around that person. I don't want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to learn from somebody else.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/celtics-jayson-tatum-details-leadership-231001299.html

Certainly sounds like he's talking about JB...

I don't think this is the case.... In fact Jaylen very vocally was all about continuing to learn as you grow, if anything he'd probably agree with Tatum.

Not every comment is a secret slight at somebody, and quite frankly if it is it reflects EXTREMELY poorly on Tatum. You know what leaders don't do? Take veiled shots at former teammates during youth camps.