Kemba Walker says Jayson Tatum is a big reason why he signed with Celtics

https://clutchpoints.com/celtics-news-kemba-walker-says-jayson-tatum-is-a-big-reason-why-he-signed-with-boston/



Kemba Walker says Jayson Tatum is a big reason why he signed with Celtics





by Ashish Mathur

July 18, 2019




Kemba Walker says Jayson Tatum is a big reason why he signed with the Boston Celtics in free agency.

Walker and Tatum were in Paris together before the free agency period started. Walker says he and Tatum spoke about playing together on the Celtics. The three-time All-Star admits he gets good vibes when he’s around Tatum.

“A lot was because of him,” Walker told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan. “Just the kind of person he is. He’s just such a good dude. He’s young, and I think he’s very mature for his age.”

Kemba Walker says Jayson Tatum never told him to come to the Celtics. Instead, the small forward talked about the city of Boston, Celtics fans and playing for head coach Brad Stevens.

That was enough for Walker to realize signing with Boston would be the right move for him. The three-time All-Star, who is replacing Kyrie Irving as the Celtics’ starting point guard, already has a good rapport with Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward and Stevens.

Boston fans are looking forward to watching Walker play in 2019-20. There’s no doubt Irving is a tremendous talent, but he just didn’t mesh with the Celtics. Walker figures to co-exist with Stevens, Tatum, Brown and Hayward better than Irving did.



bob
MY NOTE: IT recruited Horford, Tatum recruited Walker (perhaps not deliberately), Walker recruited Kanter (deliberately). This is how it works now in the NBA (DWade recruited LeBron, who recruited Bosh. Irving recruited Durant to Brooklyn, LeBron recruited Davis to LA). This is why having 'good guys' is so important. Chemistry counts and chemistry should be better now if for no other reason if but Kemba chose Boston (Kyrie didn't, he was traded here) and he chose it because he was sold by a Celtic player he trusts and likes. Same with Kanter.

It's also very nice to hear that Jayson Tatum is talking up the team, the coach, the fans and the city just because he really likes it and us. Happy players make for happier locker rooms.


.

And, happy locker rooms often make for team that hustles, plays hard and unselfishly, becomes fun to watch and WINS.

Can't wait to see this year's team.

wideclyde wrote:And, happy locker rooms often make for team that hustles, plays hard and unselfishly, becomes fun to watch and WINS.

Can't wait to see this year's team.

Wide and Bob,

So true, and so simple, yet so misunderstood ('mis-believed?').

I've been part of teams as a player and coach that perform at a higher level than expected because everyone has each others backs and they have a common goal. Interesting enough, I've even seen this work out when there may be a player or two that dislike one another. They put aside their personal discord to perform together on the field. The team becomes greater than the sum of its parts.

Teams where the atmosphere becomes toxic, however, are a whole different story. Lack of team play, driven by division among several members in the clubhouse due to self-centered mind-sets and selfishness on the field, just cannot seem to be overcome. On the field, or anywhere else. The team performs below its expected level. From everything publicly known, and throwing in a few elements we all seem to surmise, the '18-'19 Celtics look like a prime example of the downside.

I hope, and expect, we'll see a return to the better side, exhibited in '17-'18, this coming season.

Regards