Jayson Tatum said the right thing when asked who he wants to see win a ring

Good news for Celtics fans: Jayson Tatum still wants to win an NBA championship above all else. Or at least that’s what he said.

Tatum took part in a midseason players poll in The Athletic, in which guys were asked questions on various big-picture topics across the league. For example, they were asked the league’s best trash-talker, and Tatum said “no doubt” that it’s Draymond Green.

But the most notable, and most promising, answer Tatum gave was on the question of who he wants to see win a championship.

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during overtime at TD Garden on January 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Warriors 121-118. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• Specifically, the question was: “Besides yourself, is there a player in the league you’d love to see win a ring?” So, obviously, the idea was for players to name-drop some other guy. Tatum wasn’t having it.

  Tatum’s answer: “Nah, nobody. I’ve gotta get one first.”

  *Family Feud voice* Good answer good answer good answer!

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – FEBRUARY 01: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Brooklyn Nets during the first half at TD Garden on February 01, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• It’s refreshing to see an NBA player have a smidgen of selfishness specifically when it comes to winning the championship. That’s what every fan of every team should want, especially in their superstars.

  At the same time, talk is cheap. Tatum still needs to perform better in the NBA Finals than he did in 2022 against the Golden State Warriors, in order to actually get that ring. He surely knows that, and would probably say it himself if you asked. But it’s different to say it than it is to actually do it.

  Fortunately for Boston, Tatum is in the mix to win NBA MVP and the Celtics remain the favorite to win it all; they have the best championship odds at +280 at the DraftKings Sportsbook. And it’s no doubt a good thing that he said he wants himself to win, defying the question itself, as opposed to saying something like “Gee I hope Nikola Jokić gets a ring someday!”

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  BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics celebrates after scoring against the Golden State Warriors during overtime at TD Garden on January 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Celtics defeat the Warriors 121-118. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

• It’s great that Tatum is saying these things, but actions speak louder than words. It doesn’t matter how much Tatum wants to win a ring if he can’t do what it takes to get it. We’ll have to wait until the actual playoffs to get a fresh answer on that one.

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  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.