Mike Conley shares high expectations for Celtics star Jayson Tatum

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has made significant strides in his NBA career, including winning a title in 2024 and earning six All-Star selections in the past six years. However, could he take another leap in his game? First-year teammate Mike Conley believes so, and he may be the ideal person to comment on the matter as Conley turns 39, nearly a year older than Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla.

Over his 20-year career, Conley has witnessed numerous successful basketball seasons and spoke highly of Tatum during training camp at the Auerbach Center. Conley noted that Tatum is "coming into his own as a leader" and is "ready to make a jump" after overcoming recent injuries. With Jaylen Brown now playing for the Philadelphia 76ers, Boston has placed increased reliance on Tatum to lead the team.

Conley expressed excitement for Tatum's growth and improvement, praising his recent offseason, which provided ample time for Tatum to focus on his body and prepare for increased minutes and usage. Tatum himself acknowledged feeling much better than last year and expressed gratitude for the offseason. As for Conley, who is approaching his twentieth year in the league, he intends to support Tatum both in the locker room and on the court, while the rest of the Celtics team is eager to strengthen their top player ahead of an improved Eastern Conference.