Celtics' Jayson Tatum: Olympic DNPs, not successful Finals MVP made Joe Mazzulla 'happiest particular person on the planet'

Jayson Tatum acquired a few DNP-CDs on the Paris Olympics this summer time, and this did not sit effectively with some members of the Boston Celtics. “I personally was not comfortable about it,” middle Al Horford told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, referring to each Tatum’s function on Workforce USA and Jaylen Brown not being on the crew. Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, nonetheless, had a distinct response.

“I talked to Joe rather a lot,” Tatum told reporters at Celtics media day on Tuesday. “Joe was in all probability the happiest particular person on the planet that I did not win Finals MVP and that I did not play in two of the video games within the Olympics. In order that was odd. But when you understand Joe, it is smart.”

When you’ve got listened to Mazzulla speak, it does certainly make sense. Earlier this month, in an appearance on the Locked on Celtics podcast, he mentioned he did not just like the phrase “defending a title” as a result of it is a “very passive-aggressive time period.” 

“When you have a look at the animal kingdom, a number of the strongest animals do not defend; they’re probably the most aggressive, and so they assault probably the most,” he mentioned. “Whether or not you have gained or have not gained, your mindset cannot change.” 

Mazzulla certainly would have been comfortable for Tatum had he gained Finals MVP or been the star of the present for Workforce USA, however he additionally believes that success could be harmful.

On Tuesday, Mazzulla, whose press convention preceded Tatum’s, did not straight speak about Tatum’s expertise with Workforce USA or Brown successful Finals MVP, however the coach told reporters that successful a championship “assessments your inner motivation” and that “one of many challenges of this offseason was detaching from the previous.” He repeatedly burdened that the crew must have a “balanced strategy to success and failure.”

Requested if not enjoying in two of Workforce USA’s video games was a supply of motivation, Tatum initially mentioned, “I suppose you would say that, if you wish to simplify it. In actual time, it was powerful.” Then he mentioned that he did not want any further motivation coming into the season and described it as a “distinctive circumstance.”

“I am a believer that every part occurs for a motive,” Tatum advised reporters. “I used to be coming off a championship, the best of the highs. Cowl of 2K and new contract, after which that occurred. And no matter the reason being, I have not figured it out but, however I’m a believer that every part does occur for a motive. However it was a very good expertise. We gained a gold medal, I gained my second one. I used to be round a number of the greatest gamers to ever play the sport each day and constructed some friendships and was in a position to bing my household on the market and benefit from the Olympics as a complete, in order that was a plus for me for positive.”

As for Mazzulla’s summer time? “I would not say I loved the offseason,” the coach mentioned. “I loved the parade. I assumed the parade was a slightly intense expertise, which I liked, and it was a fantastic alternative to attach with the town.”

Mazzulla mentioned that he spent his time “finding out what goes into successful and what goes into shedding.” Requested how totally different it felt to be sitting on the podium at media day this 12 months versus final 12 months, the coach of the reigning champs mentioned, “Fairly actually, zero. I really feel zero distinction. And I feel in the event you’re ever fortunate to do it once more, when it does really feel totally different that is once I’d slightly not do it anymore.”