Jayson Tatum’s Strong LeBron James Message After Celtics’ Win Over Lakers

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Mar 12, 2025 2:22 PM ET

The Boston Celtics emerged victorious in a highly anticipated showdown against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, snapping LA's eight-game winning streak and evening the season series. Leading the charge for Boston was Jayson Tatum, who delivered a dominant performance with 40 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in the 114-105 victory.

Despite the loss, LeBron James put up an impressive stat line of 22 points, 14 rebounds, and nine assists before exiting late in the fourth quarter due to an apparent injury. After the game, Tatum took a moment to praise the NBA’s all-time leading scorer for his continued excellence at age 40.

Tatum, like many of today’s NBA stars, grew up watching James dominate the league. To now compete against him at the highest level is something the Celtics superstar does not take for granted.

“You just have to respect the guys who came before you and paved the way,” Tatum said. “I can't say enough good things about obviously what he has done and accomplished and what he means to the game of basketball. So, as a fan and as a competitor, those moments when you play against him, you should cherish it.”

Jayson Tatum relishes his matchups with LeBron James because there might not be many more:

“Just respect the guys that came before you and paved the way. You know, can't say enough good things about what he's done and accomplished and what he means to the game of basketball. So… pic.twitter.com/mzkFMsiUob
— Daniel Donabedian (@danield1214) March 9, 2025

Although this was the final regular-season meeting between Boston and LA, a rematch could still be in the cards—this time on the biggest stage. If both teams make deep playoff runs, Tatum and James could square off again in the NBA Finals. While James is chasing his fifth championship in Year 22, Tatum is aiming to add to his legacy with back-to-back titles in his seventh NBA season.

The Celtics (47-18) are almost certainly a lock for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. As for the Lakers (40-23), they are in a tight race for the second seed in the Western Conference, with the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, and Memphis Grizzlies also in the hunt.

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

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