Jayson Tatum Declares Himself 'That Guy' in Strong Message After Celtics’ Game 3 Win

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated May 10, 2025 9:25 PM ET

The Boston Celtics found themselves with a 20-plus point lead once again on Saturday afternoon—but this time, they didn’t let it slip away. Boston delivered a dominant 115–93 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden, trimming New York’s series lead to 2–1.

It was a complete team effort, with production coming from nearly every player who saw the floor. Jaylen Brown finished with 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists, while Payton Pritchard came off the bench to lead the team with 23 points.

Jayson Tatum added a strong all-around performance with 22 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, including five made three-pointers. But it wasn’t just his on-court play that stood out.

Following the game, Tatum made headlines with a bold postgame statement, embracing the weight of expectations:

“I live a great life. I make a lot of money… But I’m not perfect,” he said. “There are times I’ve needed to play better… That’s what comes with being that guy."

Jayson Tatum says there’s a lot that comes with being ‘that guy’:

“I live a great life. I make a lot of money… But I'm not perfect. There's times I've needed to play better… That's what comes with being that guy.”

(via @NBA_NewYork)pic.twitter.com/yUFsca9mD2
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 10, 2025

Fans reacted to the statement with mixed emotions:

"Respect. Being that guy means pressure, expectations, and showing up even when it’s tough. Tatum gets it," a fan said.

"Another one to add in Jayson’s list of cringe moments," another fan posted.

Someone else added, "He is not that guy."

One more fan commented, "He's so humble what a great example for our youth."

Jayson Tatum has been the face of the Celtics since entering the league, and his resume stacks up with the best of any player his age in the NBA.

However, after a somewhat underwhelming playoff run last season—by his own high standards—and being edged out by Jaylen Brown for both Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP honors, criticism has continued to follow him, at times excessively.

But Tatum answered his critics in Game 3, bouncing back after scoring just 13 points in the Game 2 loss in Boston. With Game 4 set for Monday night at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics will look to even the series at 2–2 and head back to TD Garden with momentum for a pivotal Game 5.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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