Inside Sam Cassell's mission to get Jayson Tatum 'picking teams apart'

When Tatum takes the court, though, Cassell’s focus is solely on his new superstar pupil. It’s hard not to pay attention to him, especially when Tatum says “he talks more than anybody I’ve ever met in my life.” That says a lot when he was just teammates with Grant Williams.

“It's been great,” Tatum said. “He's a very animated guy, a lot of personality. But he's very funny. A lot of great stories and he knows a lot. He played 14, 15 years in this league, well respected. It's great to have somebody that has been a player, had a lot of success winning championships. So, learning a lot and we love having him around.”

It's the work with Tatum that might pay off the most. Sure, he can offer tidbits to other players, but unlocking something with Tatum has the potential to turn the Celtics star into an MVP. And a lot of that could come in the low post. 

“Once he grasps that portion of his game,” Cassell starts, pausing to emphasize the gravity of what he’s saying. “He’s hard to stop now … he’s going to be very, very hard to stop. … with his back to the basket, it leads to him picking teams apart.” 

Cassell, who has won championships with Hakeem Olajuwon, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce, isn’t afraid of correcting Boston’s star. At the same time, he’ll heap the praise on Tatum whenever he gets a new concept right. Against the Knicks in Boston’s last home preseason game, he pulled Tatum aside to let him know he was working at the right speed out of the post. 

“You have to understand when you’re dealing with a great player like Jayson Tatum, he has to welcome you to teach him,” Cassell told Boston Sports Journal. “The thing that's fulfilling for me is how warm and welcoming that he’s allowing me to help him with his basketball game … he’s been open to me. He’s allowing me to really, really coach him. And he’ll tell you I’m not easy.”

While Cassell can be tough as a coach, he also understands that there's a gentle touch to it as well, making the entire process collaborative. As much as he tells Tatum what to do, he listens to what Tatum wants to do, and they work together from there. 

“He’s making tremendous strides right now. It’s gonna be fun to watch him,” Cassell told BSJ. “It always feels good -- you put the work in, now you transfer the work from the practice court to the game court, and you see it really, really works, it makes you want to do that aspect of it even more.” 

This is just the beginning for Tatum and Cassell’s working relationship. Cassell sees the potential for a lot more from a guy who already averaged 30 points per game and made first-team All-NBA. He understands that right now Tatum and the Celtics are laying the groundwork for something big. 

“It’s all about the journey,” Cassell said. “We’re going to embrace the journey and put everything into the journey. And once we embrace it and enjoy that journey…” 

He won’t say what the result will be. He won’t say that word. He’ll just call it “that thing everybody wants, especially in the city of Boston. We all know what I’m talking about.” 

We do. And to get to that day, one which Cassell himself experienced here in 2008, his new protege has to take another step forward. Cassell can see how it’s supposed to look in his mind. If it can look that way on the court, then Cassell will be able to celebrate just like he did 16 years ago.