Shaquille O’Neal gets honest about Jayson Tatum ‘stealing’ celebrations from Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and more

Whether his celebrations were original or not, Shaq thinks the moment was emotional and meaningful for Tatum and the Celtics.

Shaquille O’Neal gets honest about Jayson Tatum ‘stealing’ celebrations from Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett, and more

Shaquille O’Neal thinks Jayson Tatum was not in the wrong with his Championship celebrations

Shaquille O’Neal defended Jayson Tatum’s celebrations after the Celtics won the NBA championship, saying it was Tatum’s way of paying homage to his favorite players. Tatum’s celebrations were called out for lacking originality, with some saying he “stole” moves from Kobe Bryant, Stephen Curry, and Kanye West.

Big Shaq disagreed, saying that Jayson Tatum was simply paying tribute to the greats who came before him. He noted that as a kid, Tatum likely remembered iconic championship moments and was honoring those players by imitating their celebrations.

As a kid when you see those championships, you remember those moments… So, for him doing that, I thought it was just him paying homage to all his favorite players.
Shaquille O’Neal said on The Big Podcast

Tatum’s celebrations included holding the championship trophy like Kobe Bryant and mimicking Kevin Garnett’s signature moves. Shaquille O’Neal saw this as a sign of respect, rather than a lack of originality.

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In the end, Shaq said that what mattered most was that JT finally won a championship, even though he found the finals to be boring, after years of struggling to do so. Whether his celebrations were original or not, the moment was emotional and meaningful for Tatum and the Celtics.

Jayson Tatum’s ‘unflashy’ greatness leads Celtics to NBA championship

Jayson Tatum has finally silenced his critics by leading the Boston Celtics to an NBA championship, proving he has what it takes to win a title. Despite his impressive playoff resume, Tatum has often been overlooked due to his ‘unflashy’ game and lack of dominance on the ball.

However, his ability to contribute in various ways, including scoring, rebounding, playmaking, and defense, has made him a vital part of the Celtics’ success. Tatum’s stats are impressive, with more playoff points before his 27th birthday than anyone in NBA history, as well as top-10 rankings in playoff assists, rebounds, steals, blocks, and three-pointers.

He has also led the Celtics to more regular and postseason wins than any other team since 2017, showcasing his consistent impact on the team’s success. Tatum’s selflessness and unflashy game may not earn him individual honors, but his legacy is cemented with the Celtics’ championship win.

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