Jayson Tatum Discusses Celtics Legacy in Video, Says He'd Have Statue if He Was on Grizzlies

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and no team in NBA history has as many crowns as the 18-time champion Boston Celtics.

But that also means plenty of pressure for the franchise's current players to live up to the standard of excellence already in place.

"We've definitely felt it," Jayson Tatum said during an appearance on The Pivot Podcast (32:55 mark). "A lot of times, the former players come back, whether it be Rondo or KG or Paul. … Or you talk about the '86 Celtics. The thing they all have in common is they won. They won one or multiple championships. 

"As you're striving to be a great player, the career I have right now, if I had it with the Grizzlies, I would have a statue outside the arena. But now I'm chasing people like Larry Bird where the standard is so much higher. You don't want to be the great player of the Celtics who didn't win. Bill Russell, John Havlicek, Kevin McHale, they all won."

While some may see that as a diss at the Grizzlies, Tatum is right when comparing Boston to so many other squads.

Just one look at the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team underscores how many of the greatest players in league history suited up for the Celtics. In order for Tatum or Jaylen Brown to stand out, they have to compete against the likes of Bird, Russell, Havlicek, Bob Cousy, McHale, Robert Parish, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and so many others.

Tatum's resume includes a championship, five All-NBA selections, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP and six All-Star nods. He has been one of the best players of his generation, and that list of accomplishments would put him among the top in history for a number of other franchises.

But it doesn't in Boston, at least not yet.

Fortunately for the Duke product, he is just 27 years old. He still has plenty of time to add to that resume, especially if he returns to form after he is back from his Achilles injury.

Still, that pressure will always be there for the current Celtics as they attempt to live up to the decades of lore that surrounds the franchise. And Tatum knows that better than most.