Credit: X
Joe Mazzulla, the head coach of the Boston Celtics, compared the recent criticism coming towards their forward Jayson Tatum with the Brazilian soccer icon, Neymar Jr. During the NBA Finals series against the Dallas Mavericks, Jayson Tatum hasn’t been in the best of form despite the fact that the Boston Celtics have gone 2-0 up.
In the first couple of games in the NBA Finals series, Jayson Tatum has scored a combined tally of just 34 points with 20 rebounds and 17 assists. He hasn’t quite been up to his level especially in terms of converting the three-pointers, getting it right only 28% of the time.
Joe Mazzulla compares criticism Jayson Tatum receives with Neymar Jr
When Joe Mazzulla appeared in front of the media prior to Game 3 in the best-of-seven NBA Finals series, he asked a reporter, “Who do you think had the hardest adjustment to the media and the criticism? Because the lens with which Brazilian soccer players are looked at is very similar to how American athletes are looked at by their media.”
In response, the reporter alluded to Neymar Jr’s name among the Brazilian soccer players, comparing the criticism coming the way of the Boston Celtics star with him. Without a moment’s hesitation, Joe Mazzulla agreed with the reporter before stating that his views are similar about Jayson Tatum.
Moreover, Kristaps Porzingis, who had suffered an awkward fall in the Game 2, suffered a torn medial retinaculum, which is why he is not a sure shot to play in the next game later tonight.
Here is the clip of Joe Mazzulla speaking about the comparisons between Jayson Tatum and Neymar Jr:
