Jayson Tatum's Extra Motivation for Celtics in NBA Finals

Jayson Tatum seeks to fill his trophy case with the Larry O'Brien Trophy after a heartbreaking loss in the NBA Finals.

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum has undoubtedly achieved a great deal in his NBA career, but there is still one thing missing from his collection: the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

The last time the Celtics reached the NBA Finals was in 2022, a series that ended in disappointment as they fell to the Golden State Warriors in Game 6. Despite a strong start and a series lead, the Celtics were unable to secure the championship.

Following the heartbreaking loss, Tatum was visibly devastated, reflecting on the missed opportunity. As he headed into the offseason, he was determined to learn from the experience and not let history repeat itself.

Having tasted defeat in the Finals, Tatum is fueled by a desire to avoid that feeling again at all costs.

"I've been in that position before, and I remember how it felt to come up short in the Finals. It was a terrible feeling," Tatum shared with Bleacher Report. "I've achieved individual accolades, but the one thing that has eluded me is a championship."

With the Celtics now just one win away from clinching the title after a Game 3 victory, Tatum stepped up with a stellar performance, scoring 31 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out five assists to lead his team to victory.

"I promised myself that if I ever had another shot at the Finals, I would do everything in my power to ensure a different outcome," Tatum emphasized.

The Celtics will have a chance to bring a championship back to Boston in Game 4 on Friday at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET, and Tatum is determined to seize the moment and add a well-deserved title to his impressive resume.