The whole NBA world will be watching on Saturday night as the new-look Los Angeles Lakers arrive at TD Garden for a showdown with Jayson Tatum and the defending champions. It will be the first time the Celtics will face Luka Doncic they clashed with the superstar in the NBA Finals. Months later, Doncic is part of a new contender in Los Angeles and will get his first taste of a Boston-LA rivalry on Saturday night.
Tatum was asked about that rivalry ahead of Saturday’s showdown following the Celtics’ win over the 76ers on Thursday night. However, while acknowledging the history between the two teams, Tatum explained why he doesn’t consider the Lakers as rivals in the present.
“I mean, I obviously understand the history between the Lakers and Celtics,” Tatum said. “I would say from my time in the league, I wouldn’t look at the Lakers as rivals. We only play them twice. The teams that we play over and over again in the playoffs — Philly would be one of them, and the other teams as well.”
Tatum still acknowledged there is an extra layer of competitiveness for the matchup due to the storied past between the two franchises.
“You respect and understand the history and all the guys that wore the Lakers and Celtics uniform and what it means for the game of basketball and the NBA,” Tatum said. ‘It’s an honor to be a part of that, for sure, so I’m certain everybody’s looking forward to that matchup, as they do every single year.”
Tatum is also eager to go up against his Team USA teammate LeBron James in what could be one of his final visits to TD Garden.
“As much as we probably talk about LeBron, we probably don’t talk about him enough,” Tatum said. “Being 40 in his 22nd season, playing at an All-NBA level, is incredible. It’s a testament to the work that he puts into this game, to his body to stay in the best shape to be able to compete and perform at the highest level for over two decades now. It’s something that we should all strive to do, even if it might be unlikely. But it’s a joy to be able to compete against him in these matchups for however long we get to do it.”
The Celtics and Lakers will tip off on ABC at 8:30 p.m. Saturday night.
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