Jayson Tatum ain’t soft; he’s strong. The Boston Celtics star has long been one of the key strengths of the team, but that couldn’t save him from scrutiny. He’s making history with his MVP performance, helping Boston with his elite performances, and making triple-double performances. All of that is to be called the ‘Softest Superstar in Celtics History.’
Tatum recently found himself at the center of a heated debate among former NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Brandon Jennings. During a lively episode of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, Jennings went on record calling Tatum the “softest” Boston Celtics superstar in history. Although, JT was not the one to accept any such narrative. He took to his Instagram account and laughed it off.
“SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy 😅,” Tatum captioned his post.
Jayson Tatum on IG 👀 pic.twitter.com/R6POLUjFRZ
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 9, 2025
However, no one will sit on Jennings’ theory of the Boston champion being soft. But, according to the former NBA player, he would be more intimidated by Tatum’s teammate Jaylen Brown. Jennings also argued this point with conviction, suggesting that Tatum’s game lacks the intensity and aggression expected from a player of his caliber.
Gilbert Arenas came to Tatum’s defense and pointed out the cues everybody else was missing on the podcast. He highlighted the forward’s impressive scoring average of 28 points per game as a clear indication of his prowess on the court. Arenas challenged Jennings and Young’s assessments, asserting that Tatum’s ability to consistently deliver in high-pressure situations invalidates claims of him being soft.
Also Read: VIDEO: Celtics Star Jayson Tatum Claims “The Main Goal” Is To Win NBA Championship And Not MVP
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NBA stories via Google! Follow Us
Jayson Tatum’s Trainer Jumped In Defense Of The Boston Celtics Superstar
Despite the recent comments made on his toughness, Tatum is really having a great season with the Celtics. He is undoubtedly one of the top players in the league and a serious consideration for MVP honors. However, despite his impressive performances, critics like former NBA player Brandon Jennings can’t help but throw shade.
Tatum’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, didn’t take this comment kindly and jumped in to defend his star athlete. Hanlen reminded that someone described as “soft” certainly wouldn’t be leading their team in points, rebounds, and assists, nor would they drop 51 points in a Game 7 or have crucial performances during the Finals.
“I liked Brandon Jennings as a player, but we gotta stop the [cap]. His comment that Tatum is ‘soft’ is pathetic. A soft player couldn’t lead their team in PTS, REB & AST to a title. A soft player wouldn’t have 51 in a G7 or 31/11/8 to win finals,” he noted.
Brandon Jennings said a few days ago that Jayson Tatum is the ‘softest’ Celtics superstar ever.
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 7, 2025
Tatum’s trainer, Drew Hanlen, took issue with his comments: “I liked Brandon Jennings as a player but we gotta stop the 🧢… His comment that Tatum is ‘soft’ is pathetic. A soft… pic.twitter.com/3drMfZNzCw
On the other hand, Jennings didn’t back down easily. He fired back, daring Hanlen to make sure Tatum clinches that MVP title this season as the pressure is on him. However, irrespective of this back-and-forth, Tatum will remain the superstar caliber that he is, whether someone acknowledges it or not.
