Jayson Tatum stole all the spotlight in today’s match between Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics with his antics on the court. He purposefully gave his teammate Derrick White a turnover in the final moments of the game.
Jayson Tatum makes Derrick White commit an official turnover because he doesn’t want a shot clock violation turnover that doesn’t actually exist.
Derrick White tilted. pic.twitter.com/YeeblbBnyR
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) December 26, 2023
Celtics beat Lakers 126-115 at the crypto.com Arena and currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference with 23 wins and 6 losses. Jayson Tatum scored 25 points with 8 rebounds and 7 assists. However, Jason avoiding the pass from Derrick White in the final few moments has caught the attention of many.
Jayson Tatum purposefully gives Derrick White a turnover
Derrick White seemed annoyed at what Jason pulled. Jayson, purposefully, dodged the pass from White at all costs to avoid a shot clock violation turnover to his name. However, according to the rules, the turnover isn’t registered in the name of the player, but rather the team. Hence, Jason’s personal statistics wouldn’t have altered had he caught the ball. With the ball ending up in Laker’s Austin Reaves’s hands, White was visibly frustrated.
White registered 18 points, 2 rebounds, and 11 assists. He was arguably the second-best player of the Celtics today, after Latvian teammate Kristaps Porziņģis. The turnover, his second of the game, being added to his statistics is an unfair addition, given his presence on the pitch. Kristaps was full of praise of White and said “Man, he’s special. The way he plays, how 90%-plus of the time, he makes the right play all of the time, that’s the perfect teammate you want, ya know?”
Some fans haven’t been considerate seeing Jayson Tatum’s antics. Some have been critics of Tatum’s selfishness on the court and how he prioritizes his own statistics over that of the team or his teammates. Though only 3 seconds were left and it wouldn’t have been a personal turnover, some fans are confused and find the whole situation hilarious, while some find it bad for the image. Many fans feel Jayson Tatum and Derrick White were pretty casual with it and it was taken in a fun way.
That goes to show you that all Tatum thinks about is his stats.
— Sensei (@senseitakes) December 26, 2023
Jayson Tatum avoided a final possession turnover (in garbage time) and just gave it to Derrick White! 😂#Celtics #Lakers
— NBA Fan (@NBAFan041491) December 26, 2023
Derrick White and Jayson Tatum arguing over who should’ve taken the turnover at the end ain’t a great look
— Nick (@nickmhc) December 26, 2023
Celtics face Detroit Pistons in their next match and they would look forward to extending their 3-game win streak with a win over the last-placed Pistons, who currently have 0 wins in their last 10 matches.
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