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Celtics
“We just want the utmost best for each other.”
Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal of the USA 2021 men’s national basketball team will discuss after rehearsals at UNLV’s Mendenhall Center as the team prepares for the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images
Jayson Tatum and Bradley Beal grew up every five minutes in St. Louis. Their families were friends. Both attended Chaminade High School, both were lotteries, and both played on the same team in last year’s NBA All-Star.
Now they’re both Olympics.
“Playing with my big brother, with two guys from the same neighborhood, from the same high school, going to the Olympics in St. Louis, it’s like a dream,” Tatum told reporters via Zoom on Wednesday. “It’s amazing.”
“I don’t know if this ever happened to USA Basketball,” Beal added.
Tatum and Beal have been repeatedly asked about their relationship over the years, with reporters often putting bushes around wondering if they could ever get together.
On Wednesday, a reporter asked Beal how much recruitment will take place when the stars gather to represent their country in international competitions.
Beal pretended wisely without knowing it.
“Probably a lot,” he said. “I don’t know. It depends on who’s a free agent or not.”
Beal’s response was circular, but fair, although the Olympics are a well-documented opportunity for connections to be made.
Of course, Beal did not want to reveal that information through Zoom. Of course, he will become a free agent in 2023.
“For the most part, we can’t confuse it right now,” Beal said. “We’re focusing on one goal at hand, and that brings back the gold medal. It is acknowledged that we all have our own individual goals and abilities once this is done – we can then address those issues. “
But Tatum and Beal are excited to be able to play together anywhere.
“This is definitely exciting for both of us. I’m happy with his growth, ”Beal said. “I’m excited to see him on the global stage as well as me and everyone. We have a really good team, but Jayson and I have a special relationship and I look forward to it, man. It is exciting. “
Tatum agreed.
“[Beal] was a mentor / older brother that I technically didn’t have in the house, someone who just did everything I tried to do, ”Tatum said. “I’ve seen it done firsthand.…
“We just want the utmost best for each other and only two guys who play at a very high level who always push each other. He does 50 or something, I try to do it and vice versa. It’s just the kind of relationship we have.”
Here are other takum deliveries on Tatum availability.
FIBA failures motivated Tatum to play for the US team
Tatum played disappointingly on the U.S. team, which finished seventh at the World Championships in 2019 until he sprained his ankle in the early stages, which stopped his run. Gregg Popovich told reporters that the team was deeply disappointed to lose Tatum, which they considered the foundation.
That disappointment was hard on Tatum’s stomach.
“So much time is spent from training camp, spending all this time together, on long flights, going to different countries, so I was emotionally hurt when I hurt my ankle and couldn’t play,” he said. “I wanted to be there with these guys and finish what we went there to do.
“It didn’t happen, so I think that’s one of the reasons I was so eager to come play this time. I kind of had a sour taste in my mouth after the last experience.”
Tatum believes “change is sometimes good”
Celtics reporters spoke with Tatum after the team bowed to the NBA playoffs and lost to the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday.
By Saturday, the team had a new president of basketball operations and an open head coach. A few weeks later, they had a new head coach and several new assistants. A complete change was made to the organization in a short time.
This Wednesday, reporters finally had the opportunity to ask Tatum about President Brad Stevens and head coach Ime Udoka, as well as about the arrival of Kemba Walker and Al Horford.
“It was a lot at first,” Tatum said. “All the changes, especially for the coaches and the delegation. But change is sometimes good. I’m excited about our new coach, Ide. “
Tatum added that he accepted all the finalists with a coaching search.
“I had some relationship with all of them, and I basically told him you can’t go wrong,” Tatum said. “It’s their job, the front office to make those decisions, and it’s my job to go there to play.
“About my conversations I’ve been with [Udoka] since he’s got a job, I can say he’s really, really excited. It’s going to be fun, and we’re trying to achieve something great. “
Tatum added that he hates to see one of his “close friends” go to Kemba Walker, but he wished him the best.
“Fortunately, getting Al back,” Tatum added. “He looked better green anyway.”
Physically, Tatum feels good.
After a long basketball season that included a bubble, a full regular season, and playoffs (though short), many Celtics fans found Tatum’s decision to play for the U.S. team.
But Tatum said he was physically good.
“I feel refreshed,” he said. “It was a good time free. Overall, I feel pretty good.”
And finally, yes, you can expect a lot of recruitment.
Tatum and Beal are childhood friends. Tatum stated that he had known Bam Adebayo since high school. The image at the top of this story depicts Tatum and Beal laughing with Damian Lillard.
“Only the relationships that are created with these guys are we’re going to be together for about six weeks and really only together,” Tatum said. “So just build those relationships.”
Do what you want with it.
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