Jayson Tatum says that Bird is “the best Celtic ever”. What about Russell?

Celtics

Tatum said he Jage Larry Bird as the greatest Celtic ever. Why isn’t Bill Russell the measurement rod?

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Jayson Tatum is a goal machine from the middle west that plays forward for the Boston Celtics. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense why he adores Larry Bird.

Everyone needs someone or something to motivate them. Now that he has a championship under his belt, the pursuit of production and admiration at the bird level seems to be driving this season.

“I think that since I came in the league and only tried to get better every year,” said Tatum when he was asked what was doing this season. “I have been very well achieved at a young age, but the truth is and I used to say that I imagine the KDS as one of these boys, the LeBron, the Stephs. I want the next generation to see me that way. “

“Wearing the Celtics uniform is very proud and the best Celtic ever is Larry Bird,” said Tatum. “Even if I never achieve this – maybe I do, maybe I don’t do it if you want to hunt the guy If you know that you have given everything, you can agree to it. “

There is no doubt that Bird is not just one of the greatest Celtics of all time, but one of the greatest NBA players of all time. Three titles, three MVP awards, a dozen all-star appearances, nine selections of the first team and two NBA final MVPs show a level that was only achieved by a few people in the history of the game.

Tatum, the only Celtic to average 30 points in one season, said that he could imagine that one day he reached this level. When he realized that his career could stand on a similar trajectory and Bird’s effects to see him, he wanted to hunt bird, said Tatum.

“You see the effects he had on the basketball game,” said Tatum. “And obviously with the Celtics who won three championships, three MVPs in a row, which is incredible. Subtly you can see to see that you both scored 60 points in one game. “

“You are mentioned in the” only other Keltie that do this “, and as soon as you have won a championship, it is like” okay, you can be with the Celtics legends in these rooms “, but it doesn’t just listen to One on. ” he added. Kerl who can hunt in a certain sense.

Tatum is entitled to his opinion. This is not the first time he said it, and it will probably not be the last. Many people probably feel the same way. His opinion was huge due to his stature as a player. He is the face of the franchise and one of the young faces of the NBA.

But it would be nice to hear what his definition of NBA size is and why Bird fits this form better than Bill Russell.

When winning the measurement floor, Russell is unsurpassed. He is the only one who wins 11 titles. He led the Celtics to eight consecutive championships from 1959 to 1966. The NBA final MVP trophy is named after it.

Like Bird, Russell was a 12-time all-star. Russell won five league MVPs for Bird’s Three, but only had three all-NBA selections of the first team to Bird’s Nine. The NBA only began to name the all-defensive teams until Russell’s last season in 1968-69, but if they had started in his career, selection.

In addition, what Russell had to endure from the court as a black man during the Jim Crow era.

The league was smaller during Russell’s flowering period and there was no free mood, so the team building methods were very different than today. But the dominance is dominance and it is difficult to find a more dominant résumé than Russells.

Russell and Bird both were great. Tatum is also great and there is nothing wrong with tracking the size of the bird. But Tatum should be pushed more difficult to explain his position to Russell vs. Bird if he will continue to speak publicly about which Celtic is the greatest.

If you represent the most victorious franchise in the NBA that contains a record of 18 NBA titles, you should have to explain why the type who has won most of you and his jersey is not retired from every single NBA franchise The best to ever wear Celtic jersey.

We haven’t heard that from Tatum yet. I hope he can be soon.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports reporter

Khari Thompson covers the professional sport for boston.com. Before Khari came to the team in 2022, he reported the College football for the Clarion Ledger in Jackson.