Tatum aims for multiple titles and greatness

The Boston Celtics are hungry for more titles as they prepare to launch the defence of their National Basketball Association (NBA) crown when the new season tips off on Oct 22, said Jayson Tatum.

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After years of agonising near misses and play-off disappointments, Tatum and the Celtics ended a 16-year title drought in June to claim a recordbreaking 18th NBA championship.

Tatum told reporters at the Celtics media day on Sept 24 he hoped Boston's victory last season was only the beginning of a new era of success for the team.

"It was never just about just trying to win one, right?" Tatum said.

"Now you get to be at least in the same room with the other Celtics, great teams, the other great players.

"All the guys that I looked up to growing up, at least won one championship. So now it's just a conversation of how great are you trying to be? What tier you're trying to be mentioned in when it's all said and done?" Tatum, a member of the United States' gold-medal winning squad at the Paris Olympics, added that heading into the new season as NBA champions was a "different" feeling.