Jayson Tatum joins Larry Bird in NBA record books amid hot start – NBC Sports Boston

Ahead of the 2024-25 NBA season, Jayson Tatum expressed his desire to surpass Larry Bird as the greatest Boston Celtic of all time.

“Larry Bird is the best Celtic to ever wear this uniform and that’s the guy I’m following,” he said. “Even if I don’t make it, if I strive to be as great as him, and if you fall a little behind, you’ve had a hell of a career.”

Tatum still has a long way to go after winning his first NBA championship, but at just 26 years old, he continues to make ground on Larry Legend.

On Thursday, Tatum joined Bird in the NBA record books, helping the C’s defeat the Washington Wizards and improve to 2-0. After his opening night performance of 37 points and 10 assists, he posted 25 points and 11 rebounds in DC

According to Celtics statistics guru Dick Lipe, Tatum and Bird (1987) are the only two forwards in league history to have recorded at least 62 points, 15 rebounds and 16 assists in the first two games of the season.

Tatum’s offseason adjustments to his shooting appear to be paying off. The five-time All-Star is 22-for-38 from the floor in his first two games, including 11-for-22 from 3-point range.

If his 3-point shooting continues to improve, it would be a frightening development for the rest of the league. It would also help him tremendously in checking another item off his career to-do list: his first NBA MVP award.

Tatum and the C’s will be hoping to stay hot when they visit the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night. Kickoff for this match is set for 7:00 p.m. ET with coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Boston Celtics Pregame Live.