Times are tough for the Boston Celtics right now.
They just suffered a brutal playoff collapse in the first round against the Philadelphia 76ers (who then got mollywhopped by the New York Knicks in a four-game sweep the following round), nobody knows what's going to happen with Jaylen Brown yet amid the latest trade rumors, and there are some concerns about them competing for a championship again in the near future with the growing competition around them.
But in spite of all of that, Jayson Tatum made his thoughts crystal clear and said he "absolutely" believes he can win another championship in Boston on Craig Melvin’s “Glass Half Full” podcast.
It will take a lot for the Jays to win another championship in Boston
When the Celtics won it all in 2024, there were thoughts about them becoming the NBA's new dynasty. Tatum, Jaylen Brown, and Derrick White were all under 30 years old, and the rest of the team looked like a juggernaut (when healthy, Kristaps Porzingis was the perfect third option next to the Jays, Jrue Holiday and Al Horford looked ageless, and guys like Payton Pritchard, Sam Hauser, and Luke Kornet were coming into their own).
Unfortunately for them, it didn't happen. They suffered a devastating six-game loss to the New York Knicks in the second round of last year's playoffs, went on a huge fire sale, and just lost in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
And now, Boston's short-term outlook doesn't look promising. It has taken a backseat in the Eastern Conference (New York is likely headed towards a finals appearance, the Detroit Pistons were the No. 1 seed this year and have gotten better over each of the past few seasons, and the Indiana Pacers should be contenders again once Tyrese Haliburton returns from his Achilles injury next season).
Plus, the Western Conference looks even scarier with the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs looking like they will be the two best teams in the league for years to come.
It's definitely not impossible, and it's important to remember that Tatum and Brown aren't even 30 years old yet and still have a ton of elite basketball in them. But the Celtics' reign as the top team in the NBA is over. And barring some big internal or external changes, it might be a long time before they get that spot back.
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