Jayson Tatum is pleased to see Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby finally win for the Knicks

Jayson Tatum is pleased to see Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby finally win for the Knicks originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Jayson Tatum is one of the modern era’s most successful players, having been the superstar for the Boston Celtics for a long time. Unfortunately for him, the Celtics have not been successful over the past two seasons, largely due to his injury issues. That opened the door for other teams to take over, including the most recent champions, the New York Knicks.

Due to the Knicks being one of the Celtics’ primary rivals, it is easy to see why Tatum is unhappy about them winning the championship. He is a competitor first and foremost, but he does show some happiness about some of his peers on the Knicks roster.

Jayson Tatum loves that Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby won the championship

It can be quite challenging to see your peers winning a championship while you sit at home. That is what Tatum had to endure over the past two seasons, as he sat at home dealing with an injury in 2025, and he was reeling from blowing a 3-1 lead in the 2026 Playoffs.

Despite the harsh reality settling in during the 2026 postseason, Tatum was still happy that some of his friends were successful. He pointed out how he has known Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby for a long time, so seeing them win a championship was a happy moment.

MORE: Jalen Brunson’s latest surgery news proves the 2026 championship was even more special

Of course, that still hurts as a competitor because Tatum wants to keep succeeding with the Celtics. Unfortunately, he might have to work harder now because Jaylen Brown is now with the Philadelphia 76ers after a blockbuster trade. However, it seems he is motivated by seeing some of his friends succeed this season.

“Just sitting it out, really spectating as a fan. I will say that I’ve known Jalen Brunson since I was 16. I’ve known OG since I was 16. A lot of guys in the NBA, we go way back. I wasn’t rooting for them, but when they won, I was happy for them,” Tatum said on TODAY with Jenna & Sheinelle. 

The Knicks’ recent success should motivate the rest of the league. It is clear that Tatum has internalized that and will be using it as a way to motivate himself ahead of the 2026-27 season. It will be an exciting one for Tatum, as he will be fully healthy after dealing with the ruptured Achilles tendon over the past year.

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