Kendrick Perkins says Jayson Tatum called him after criticism of the leadership

14 April 2021 | 11:07

When Kendrick Perkins unleashed harsh criticism on Jayson Tatum, the young Celtics star responded directly to him.

After the Celtics victory over the Trail Blazers Tuesday night, Perkins revealed that Tatum reached out to him after Perkins. criticized Tatum’s body language during a loss to the 76ers earlier in April. In his conversation with Tatum, Perkins said he told Tatum how high he thinks the ceiling is for him.

“The thing I appreciate about Jayson Tatum is that he did not become sensitive, and that he did not return to me on Twitter or social media,” Perkins said in the Neltonsport-Boston Celtics post-match program. ‘Guess what he did? Guess what finally happened? We actually had a phone call and talked about it. He called me and we talked about it.

“I said to him, ‘Hey, I’m a big fan of yours. I was a big fan of yours. I just feel like you have it in you to increase your game even more. You can get 25 in your sleep, but I think you can separate yourself and be up there with the superstars, and I feel like you have more in your game and that you can take over this team. ”

The Celtics have won their last four games since Perkins called out Tatum, and Tatum was a big reason for that. He averaged 34.5 points per game in that stretch, including a 53-point game in a win over the Timberwolves, which helped him win the Oriental Conference Player of the Week.

Perkins said he likes Tatum’s approach to his criticism.

“I appreciate Jayson Tatum because we did not have a conversation where it was beef,” Perkins said. ‘We had a conversation where he just wanted to understand where I was coming from and I understood how he felt about my comments. I had to let him know that I was not personally attacking him and that I was a big fan of him. So, this is how real people talk and this is how real professionals handle their business, as Jayson Tatum does – not get sensitive. ”

Admittedly, Tatum acknowledged the flakes he received for his leadership after the Timberwolves’ victory last Friday.

“I know I’m not the hardest and I’m not showing much emotion. “Everyone who has coached me and knows me knows that I will go to war any day,” Tatum told reporters.

Tatum’s latest performance took place on Tuesday night, leading the Celtics to a 116-115 victory over the Trail Blazers. He scored a game-high 32 points, and with 8.5 seconds left, made it 3 points to put Boston ahead by four. With the win, the Celtics have moved up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference and will try to end their West Coast trip on Thursday with a win over the Lakers.