During media availability at NBA All-Star weekend, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum talked about the coaches he has had over the years, and he reminisced about the relationship he had with Ime Udoka, who was his head coach last season.
In fact, Tatum said that Udoka was his favorite coach.
Celtics F Jayson Tatum on his relationship with Ime Udoka: “Whatever happened, happened and that doesn’t have anything to do with me. But I can’t take away the relationship that me and him had and the impact that he had on me in that one season.” pic.twitter.com/ep60832qU3
— Tramel Raggs (@Raggs_No_Riches) February 18, 2023
In 2021, Udoka replaced Brad Stevens, the former Celtics head coach who moved up into the front office, and he did an admirable job at the helm of the storied franchise.
Boston started the season 25-25, and there were rumblings that perhaps they should break up the duo of Tatum and Jaylen Brown, but instead, the team got hot, finishing second in the Eastern Conference and making it all the way to the NBA Finals.
There, they took a 2-1 series lead over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, only to lose the next three games and the championship.
Tatum played very poor ball in that series, but he has bounced back so far with what is looking like a career-best season.
He is averaging 30.6 points per game, which is sixth in the NBA, and he has had eight games of at least 40 points, including a 51-point effort last month versus the Charlotte Hornets.
Meanwhile, Brown is playing some outstanding ball himself by putting up 26.5 points per game.
The Celtics currently have the league’s best record at 42-17, and they have better depth this season compared to last thanks to their trade for Malcolm Brogdon last summer.
But in Boston, fans measure success only by world championships, and nothing less than one will be acceptable for Tatum and crew.
