Jayson Tatum Reacts to Damian Lillard Joining Bucks, Discusses Celtics' Urgency to Win Now

Jayson Tatum recognizes how fragile championship windows like the one the Celtics have now are.

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Days before training camp, the Portland Trail Blazers dealt Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. The seven-time All-Star was a member of the Trail Blazers for 11 seasons.

Jayson Tatum reacted to the shocking move.

"I was surprised," Tatum told Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report. "You saw the Dame trade talks all summer, and I never saw Milwaukee in that conversation. I never heard about them [being interested]. So, opening up my phone and seeing that definitely shocked me.”

Tatum acknowledged that competing against the Bucks will be a challenge.

"They're going to have a hell of a team. There's no way around that. They have two of the best players in this league at two of those prime-time positions. They're going to be tough, but it's gonna be fun. I'm looking forward to this season. It's a lot of really, really good teams in the league and it's going be some good basketball this season."

Lillard’s departure from Portland paved the way for the Boston Celtics to acquire Jrue Holiday. Tatum expressed excitement to team-up with the three-time NBA Teammate of the Year.

"I'm extremely happy to have him," Tatum told B/R. "Jrue's one of the most well-respected guys in this league. He's a champion. We won a gold medal together two summers ago. So, I know him pretty well and know he is a hell of a player, a hell of a teammate.”

The two-time All-NBA First Team selection also conveyed the following about what it's like shouldering championship expectations, which he senses have intensified since Boston reached the Finals in 2022.

"I don't know if it's pressure, but it's just not taking things for granted by maximizing the opportunity and the talent. Because you're not always going to be on a team that has a realistic shot. You can't come in with the mindset that [this window is] going to last forever and we have so much time.

"No, we need to approach every season like this is the year we have to make it happen, because you don't want to take any time for granted."

Further Reading

Sensing Celtics' Excitement, Intensity, Paul Pierce Believes Jrue Holiday's 'The Missing Piece'

Celtics seek long-term marriage with Jrue Holiday

From Envisioning Being a Buck for Life to Joining Top Rival, Jrue Holiday's Ready to Help Celtics Get Where He's Already Been

Under Joe Mazzulla, Celtics Rebuilding Brotherhood Between Past and Present

Celtics Excited to Learn from, Play Alongside Jrue Holiday: 'He Understands What It Takes'

Determined to Deliver Banner 18, Jayson Tatum's 'Looking Forward to Doing More, And So Should Everybody Else"

Kristaps Porzingis Says His Foot's 'Perfectly Fine' and He's Ready for Training Camp

Candace Parker on Celtics Trading Marcus Smart, Maximizing Tatum-Brown Tandem, Pat Summitt, and the Sports Matter Initiative

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Why Celtics Should Enter 2023-24 Season Optimistic About Most Important Area of Improvement