For years, Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had been drawing mixed reviews.
While his talent was undeniable, fans from other teams claimed that he was overhyped because he went to Duke and played for the Celtics.
Others called him out for his many bad games in big moments, or for how he was rarely efficient when it mattered the most.
That’s why Nike put together a great commercial to hit back at the critics, which aired shortly after he won the NBA Finals (Via NBA Central).
Jayson Tatum new commercial 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XB4yQsGybN
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 18, 2024
There, Tatum claimed that perhaps it would be better if people continued to talk about him, with the billboard reading “Don’t stop disbelieving.”
Granted, plenty of the criticism was more than fair and valid.
While no one can deny that Tatum is an elite talent, his numbers and efficiency took a significant dip in key moments, and that’s unacceptable when you’re supposed to be the best player for one of the most storied franchises in professional sports.
It’s not like he had been unfairly criticized.
Then again, we’re also talking about a 26-year-old young athlete who was still learning the ropes of being an NBA star.
Tatum has earned his stripes now with that championship, and no one will be able to take away what he’s accomplished, and he still has plenty of basketball ahead of him.
