Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Jayson Tatum discusses going up against close friend in NBA playoffs

April 16, 2025
in NBA
0
Home NBA
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Nicolas Batum declines player option, will hit free agency

NBA Trade Grades: Cavaliers Set To Acquire Lonzo Ball From Bulls – Basketball Insiders

Spurs pursue Guerschon Yabusele

BRIGHTON — Paolo Banchero often sports Jayson Tatum’s sneakers, and when he’s needed advice throughout the years, the Celtics star has been someone he has turned to.

The two have maintained a close friendship throughout Banchero’s journey from Duke to the NBA, with Tatum embracing the role of the mentor. But when the Celtics take on the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs on Friday, two standout Duke basketball alumni will put their friendship to the side.

Paolo Banchero and Jayson Tatum were friends since Banchero was in college

Banchero, the top draft pick in the 2022 draft, played for Duke for one year before beginning his NBA career in Orlando. That year in Duke, Amile Jefferson was one of his assistant coaches; Jefferson is one of Tatum’s closest friends and is now an assistant coach on the Celtics.

Tatum, who was selected third overall by the Celtics in 2017, was already a three-time All-Star by the time Banchero entered the league. And, he shared his experiences from his first few years in the league to help aid Banchero’s transition.

In January of 2023, Banchero told Boston Sports Journal’s Bobby Manning that one of the biggest pieces of advice Tatum gave him when he entered the NBA was: You have to go and take what you want.

“Coming in, just because you’re a high pick, you’re probably going to have more stuff handed to you than the regular person, but you can’t take on that attitude,” Banchero said, recalling his friends’ advice. “You have to work for everything. Guys are going to come at you, guys on other teams, maybe even guys on your own team… just be aware that nobody’s going to hand you anything. You’ve got to go out and take it. That always stuck with me.”

Jayson Tatum has regularly battled friends throughout the playoffs — and Paolo Banchero is the latest

Tatum is not in unfamiliar territory when it comes to matching up against a good friend in the NBA playoffs. He’s battled against close friend Bam Adebayo on the Miami Heat in four of the last five playoffs, the two sharing that they ceased communication throughout the postseason.

He’s eliminated Kevin Durant, someone he’s regularly trained with and learned from, and faced fellow 2017 lottery pick and close friend Donovan Mitchell in the conference semi-finals against the Cleveland Cavaliers last Spring. The list goes on and on.

Tatum said that facing off against his good friend in the postseason doesn’t change the dynamic of the series.

And, on Tuesday night, after the Magic clinched their spot in the first round against Boston, Banchero reflected on what facing Tatum would be like.

“I’ve known Jayson since I was going into college,” Banchero said. “I see him every summer. [He’s a] guy that I’m very familiar with, but one of the guys I go to for advice and stuff like that. Obviously, now we’re competing — and I think the best way for me to show my respect is to give him my best effort and go at him as much as I can.”

Tatum said at practice on Wednesday that he appreciated Banchero’s mindset.

“That’s how it should be,” he said. “He’s trying to lead his team in the playoffs and figure out ways to win, and I’m trying to do the same thing.”

But, the two will set their friendship aside for the first time as they prepare for a first-round playoff battle.

“It’s just shifting your mindset to — it’s the playoffs,” Tatum said. “Just having the understanding that — no friends out there. Nothing else matters besides doing everything I can to help my team win. There’s not really time for anything else.”



Source link

Tags: againstboston-celtics-newscelticsblogCloseDiscussesFriendfront-pagegoinginjaysonnbaplayoffstatumup
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Nicolas Batum declines player option, will hit free agency

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 28, 2025
0
Nicolas Batum declines player option, will hit free agency

Nicolas Batum: I always say that Ty Lue saved my career. He did. Like, when I got waived—when Woj announced on Twitter—and I found out that way. Interviewer:...

Read more

NBA Trade Grades: Cavaliers Set To Acquire Lonzo Ball From Bulls – Basketball Insiders

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 28, 2025
0
NBA Trade Grades: Cavaliers Set To Acquire Lonzo Ball From Bulls – Basketball Insiders

The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to acquire Lonzo Ball from the Chicago Bulls in exchange for Isaac Okoro. ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report. This move improves...

Read more

Spurs pursue Guerschon Yabusele

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 28, 2025
0
Spurs pursue Guerschon Yabusele

The San Antonio Spurs have become a potential destination for forward Guerschon Yabusele, who is set to enter unrestricted free agency on July 1 after his stint with...

Read more

Report: Chicago agrees to trade Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 28, 2025
0
Report: Chicago agrees to trade Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro

The Cleveland Cavaliers surveyed what is expected to be a down East next season and see their opportunity. With that, they are looking for roster upgrades, pushing all...

Read more

Cooper Flagg Calls Dallas Situation a ‘Blessing’

by TODAY IN SPORTS
June 28, 2025
0
Cooper Flagg Calls Dallas Situation a ‘Blessing’

While most top picks enter the league with little help and sky-high expectations, 18-year-old Cooper Flagg finds himself in a rare spot: joining a roster full of veterans...

Read more
Next Post
Drunken Tourist In Thailand Gets Beaten Down After Harrassing Women In Local Bar

Drunken Tourist In Thailand Gets Beaten Down After Harrassing Women In Local Bar

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

Filip Krajinovic displays on retirement: ‘It was not straightforward to say goodbye’ | ATP Tour

Filip Krajinovic displays on retirement: ‘It was not straightforward to say goodbye’ | ATP Tour

August 21, 2024
2026 World Cup update: Fifth team secured a spot in the tournament

2026 World Cup update: Fifth team secured a spot in the tournament

March 24, 2025
‘For Anybody Who Cares, I am Good’

‘For Anybody Who Cares, I am Good’

April 14, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Payton Talbott Bounces Back With Impressive Victory Over Felipe Lima
  • Cristiano Ronaldo reveals why he rejected FIFA Club World Cup 2025 clubs to stay at Al Nassr
  • UFC 317 video: Terrance McKinney locks in guillotine choke to submit Viacheslav Borshchev in 55 seconds
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.