Jayson Tatum admits to NBA Finals pressure, wants to 'enjoy it' - ESPN

BOSTON — Ahead of appearing in his second NBA Finals Thursday, Celtics star Jayson Tatum was asked if there's a different level of pressure playing for a franchise that is attempting to claim an NBA-record 18th championship banner this month.

He didn't hesitate in his answer.

«I mean, you know the answer to that,» Tatum said during his media availability Wednesday as part of the league's media day. «Of course.

»We only hang NBA championship banners, right? 17 of them. Some of the greatest players to ever play this game wore this uniform. All of us are honored to follow in their footsteps, the way they paved for us to live out our dream.

«Essentially, yeah, if you want to be one of the greats to put on this uniform, every great before you won a championship. That's what we try to play for every single season. The expectations are obviously different here. It takes special players to be here and to be a part of an environment like that.»

Tatum and the Celtics are more than familiar with the pressures that come with playing here — particularly after knocking on the door so often over the past several years. Since the start of the 2017 playoffs, the Celtics have reached the Eastern Conference finals six times, and are appearing in the league's championship round for a second time in three years.

Over those eight years, Boston has played in more playoff games — 126 — than any other team in NBA history without winning a championship, all while playing for a franchise that's hoping to move past its forever rival, the Los Angeles Lakers, and back into pole position among all teams in terms of titles won.

Tatum, though, said he doesn't spend a lot of time thinking about the future, or what winning a title would mean to him.

«Yeah