The 2023-24 Boston Celtics team was stacked with talent, and their remarkable chemistry led them to a historic 18th NBA championship, surpassing the Los Angeles Lakers’ record. The dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown played a pivotal role in defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, with their on-court connection driving the Celtics’ success.
Former NBA star Richard Jefferson was impressed by the Celtics’ talent-packed roster, but he made a bold claim during his appearance on ESPN NBA regarding the Finals outcome. In Jefferson’s opinion, the Celtics would have still won the title even if Donovan Mitchell had replaced Tatum on the team.
“If you take Jayson Tatum off the Celtics and put Donovan Mitchell, they still win, and he still averages 25 points a game,” Jefferson said.
NBA Fans Weigh on Richard Jefferson’s Bold Claim Regarding Jayson Tatum and Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell’s performance last season certainly supports Jefferson’s claim. He averaged 26.6 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game during the regular season. On the other hand, Tatum delivered slightly better numbers with 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game. But his performance in the NBA final dropped as he has averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.2 assists in 5 games against the Mavericks.
Surprisingly, some fans also supported Jefferson’s statement about Mitchell and Tatum. They believe the outcome would remain unchanged in the final if Tatum were swapped with Mitchell or another top player in the league.
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Tatum recently stated that he has yet to fully display his capabilities in a Celtics jersey. With Richard Jefferson’s bold statement, it remains to be seen how Celtics fans will view Tatum’s rapid ascent in the upcoming season.
