Tatum: Porziņģis Is Celtics' 'Missing Piece' to NBA Title; Compares to Kobe-Pau Duo

Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics have been on the cusp of a championship for the last few years, and they may have finally found the formula to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy for the first time since 2008.

According to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Tatum called Kristaps Porziņģis the "missing piece" for Boston and even compared him to legendary big man Pau Gasol, who helped Kobe Bryant win a pair of championships with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Kobe really needed Pau for those last two championships that they won together," Tatum said. "Whatever path that I'm on and we're on, KP really feels like the missing piece."

The Lakers traded for Gasol in 2008 to fill a second-star void that had existed since Shaquille O'Neal's departure in 2004. At the time of the trade, L.A. was coming off consecutive first-round exits. Gasol's midseason arrival brought a Finals appearance that year and championships the following two seasons.

Tatum has been to four Eastern Conference Finals in his seven-year career, notably losing in the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors in 2022. Boston then fell in the conference finals last year in seven games to the Miami Heat.

The Celtics acquired Porziņģis from the Washington Wizards in June in a three-team deal that sent point guard Marcus Smart, the squad's heart and soul, to the Memphis Grizzlies.

With Porziņģis in the mix, the Celtics appear more than capable of winning a championship.

Boston sits at the top of the Eastern Conference with a league-best record of 37-11 as Porziņģis averages 19.4 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. The big man has paired well with stars Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and it's clear the Celtics have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA.

The trade has paid off through the halfway point in the season, but now Boston is looking to claim its first title in over 15 years with the help of its "missing piece."