NBA Hall of Famer and TV analyst, Charles Barkley was a guest on the Bill Simmons Podcast on September 4. They discussed many topics, but one was the new chip on the shoulder of the Boston Celtics and their stars, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown. Barkley said, “The NBA found a way to piss both of them off this summer, how about that? Only the NBA can do that, let’s piss off two of the Top 10 players in the NBA after they’re coming off a championship.”
Is Charles Barkley Right?
Charles Barkley has never been one to hold back with his opinions on the NBA, so this statement on the Bill Simmons Podcast does not come as a surprise. He went on to say, “I can’t think of any other scenario where the NBA pissed off two players more than they did this summer with Jayson and Jaylen, I really believe that sincerely.”
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown went through their bouts of adversity this summer after winning the NBA Championship. Jaylen Brown was not selected to the Team USA Olympic roster after an NBA Finals MVP campaign. On the other hand, Jayson Tatum was selected to play for Team USA but spent multiple Olympic games sitting on the bench.
Tatum and Brown have had to put up with doubters their entire careers. Many thought the duo could not win a championship together. Many said Jaylen Brown’s contract was an overpay, but winning a championship was supposed to get the monkey off their backs. Instead, the Celtics still have a chip on their shoulder. Despite proving the doubters wrong by winning a ring, the summer was not all sunshine and roses. Brown and Tatum still have reasons to be upset, and more importantly, still have reasons to be motivated. As Charles Barkley said, only the NBA can do that.
Impact On Celtics Next Season
The NBA where the Boston Celtics won the championship is not the same NBA that we see today. Contenders in the Eastern and Western conferences have made moves to improve their rosters, and the Celtics path back to the finals looks increasingly difficult. While Boston kept their key players this offseason, giving contract extensions to Derrick White and Sam Hauser, they did not make any huge, news-breaking splashes. With Kristaps Porzingis already set to miss time to start the season, a bit of extra motivation could be just what the Celtics need.
Teams like the Knicks and 76ers have made big offseason moves, adding Mikal Bridges and Paul George. Teams like the Bucks and the Heat, and teams on the rise, like the Magic and Pacers. It’s safe to say that a playoff run without Porzingis would not have the same result. The Western Conference will also be loaded heading into next year.
If the Boston Celtics want to make another championship run in a stronger Eastern Conference, some extra motivation could be what they need. Brown played some of the best basketball in his career in the playoffs after not making an All-NBA Team. Now, with the Team USA drama affecting Tatum and Brown, it could motivate both of them.
Final Thoughts
Charles Barkley said that he could not think of a scenario like Tatum and Brown’s. Two players who finally got their team over the hump, only to get another chip on their shoulder and another reason for motivation. Now, the question is whether that motivation will produce results. In a tighter Eastern Conference, and with Porzingis missing time, that motivation will be necessary for the Celtics to make another run.
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