Paul Pierce Shares How Jayson Tatum's Impressing Him This Season

Paul Pierce discusses his offseason workouts with Jayson Tatum and the area of growth from the five-time All-Star that stands out to the 2008 NBA Finals MVP.

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Jayson Tatum's generating 27.1 points, 8.5 rebounds, a career-high 4.8 assists, and he's swiping a steal per game.

He's also drilling 37.2 percent of the 8.4 threes he's hoisting and getting to the free-throw line 6.7 times per contest, where he's shooting 82.9 percent.

The five-time All-Star, who has only missed three of the Boston Celtics' 61 games this season, has made a steadfast commitment to making the winning play repeatedly without getting bored of giving the ball up when opponents send a second defender at him, putting themselves at a numbers disadvantage in favor of daring Tatum's teammates to beat them.

With the Celtics equipped with the most talented top six in the NBA, that's consistently proven a losing strategy. Boston's 48-13 and has a 5.5 game lead on the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, who are in a tie for the second-best record in the league.

While the former Duke Blue Devil's sacrifice as a scorer will likely keep him from beating out his competition for the MVP Award, it's crucial to his team's success.

Furthermore, he's positively impacting outcomes in numerous ways, including not shying from guarding the opposition's best perimeter scorer, like when he quieted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Brunson after voicing that he wanted those assignments.

Paul Pierce, who worked out with Tatum in the offseason, shared what he saw this summer and how it has carried over into the regular season.

"I've seen somebody that was motivated, super motivated," the 2008 NBA Finals MVP said on his new show, The Truth Lounge, adding, "But I've seen in his workouts, what he was lifting, and the consistency of his work, that he know he left something on the table last year."

The Basketball Hall of Famer, whose No. 34 hangs in the TD Garden rafters, where Tatum's jersey number figures to join him one day, also noted, "He (is) playing with a little more aggression right now."

Pierce also praised the two-time All-NBA First Team selection for his approach and the way he's navigating games mentally this season.

"That regular season carry over to that playoffs, like, how his mind working," voiced the 10-time All-Star. "It's not even about his game right now."

That combination of a burning desire to reach the NBA's summit, not just continuing to add muscle, but applying it more than in seasons past, and Tatum's willingness to put the team first while making a significant impact at both ends, plus on the boards, is his best approach to lifting the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

Further Reading

Warriors' 'Disrespect' Only One Source of Fuel for Jaylen Brown Sunday

'The Best Team in the NBA': Luka Doncic Struck by Celtics' Balance

Jaylen Brown's Evolution Crucial to Celtics' Desire to Win with More Than Talent

Celtics Embracing Challenge to Go Beyond Most Talented

Jayson Tatum Opens Up About Sacrificing in Celtics' Title Pursuit: 'It's a Process'

Brad Stevens Discusses Celtics' Plan for Final Roster Spot

Marcus Smart Shares How Boston Shaped Him, His Message to Celtics Fans

Celtics Maturation Molded by Experience: 'It Builds, Like, an Armor'

Jaylen Brown Quieting Doubters, Validating What He Always Believed: 'Earn Everybody's Trust'

Joe Mazzulla Discusses Identity, Evolution of Celtics' Offense: 'Balance of Pace and Execution'