Key Celtic Aiming to Play in Boston Forever After Title Win

Boston Celtics fans have had an enjoyable last month. The Celtics captured their 18th title in franchise history on June 17, the most of any team in NBA history. A few days later, over a million C's fans came together to celebrate the championship in the streets of Boston. President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens has been busy holding the title-winning roster together, and Boston will essentially be running it back with the same squad in 2024. As part of his work keeping this championship core together, Stevens extended both Jayson Tatum and Derrick White.

Now, superstar Jayson Tatum has given Celtics fans yet another reason to celebrate, revealing to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe that he wants to spend his entire career with Boston chasing titles:

"For me just to feel wanted, and they want me to be here and want me for the long haul. I’ll spend my whole career here and have got nothing but love for the fans, the city, and the organization. You know, we just won a championship and I want to try to win as many as I can."

- Jayson Tatum

Tatum signed the richest contract in NBA history on July 6. His five-year, $314 million deal keeps him in Boston until his age 30 season in 2028-29. Tatum's contract also includes a player option for 2029-30.

Tatum has notoriously idolized Kobe Bryant, a player who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships. It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that is the model for Tatum's aspirations.

Selected third overall by the Celtics in the 2017 NBA Draft, Tatum has the opportunity to go down in Celtics lore with the likes of Bill Russell, Larry Bird, Sam Jones, Tommy Heinsohn, K.C. Jones, Kevin McHale, and John Havlicek as players who spent their entire career in Celtics green and won multiple championships.

Boston will be hoisting their 18th banner to the rafters this fall. If Tatum has anything to say about it, it won't be the last title banner. If he has anything to say about it, his No. 0 will be hanging in the rafters one day too.

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