A Heated Exchange Over Loyalty

A casual championship prediction on a podcast turned into a heated exchange between LaVar Ball and Justin Tatum, the father of Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum. During an episode of Ultimate Dads Unplugged, which featured Justin Tatum, LaVar Ball, Dwyane Wade Sr., and Quenton Brown Sr., the elder Tatum was asked who he thought would win the 2027 NBA Finals.

"Realistically, I might say New York might run it back," Justin Tatum said, per Essentially Sports and Heavy. The remark — favoring the defending champion Knicks over his son's Celtics — immediately drew a challenge from Ball, one of the show's hosts.

"I'll slap the hell out of you. If you don't say the team your son is on, you gotta be crazy," Ball said, as reported by Essentially Sports.

Justin Tatum did not back down. When pressed about Boston's chances, he responded bluntly: "Right now? Roster? Shit," according to both outlets.

A Roster in Transition

The skepticism about the Celtics' roster stems from a dramatic offseason in Boston. On July 1, 2026, the Celtics traded Jaylen Brown — who averaged 28.7 points per game last season, per Essentially Sports — to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and four future draft picks, as reported by both Essentially Sports and Heavy.

The move followed a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season. Boston finished with a 56-26 regular-season record, but lost a 3-4 series to the 76ers in the first round, according to Essentially Sports. Jayson Tatum's availability was a major factor: he missed the first 62 games due to a torn Achilles, returned in March, and then missed Game 7 against Philadelphia after aggravating his left leg, per Essentially Sports. Celtics president Brad Stevens said the injury was not a long-term concern but "didn't look right," as quoted by MassLive and cited by Essentially Sports.

Despite Tatum's limited 16-game sample — in which he averaged 26.8 points, per Essentially Sports — ESPN predicts the Celtics will win 48 games in the upcoming season, though that projection was noted only by Essentially Sports.

Boston also added Mitchell Robinson on a three-year, $47.4 million contract, according to Heavy, a move that addresses the team's frontcourt depth.

The Knicks' Championship Pedigree

Justin Tatum's pick of New York is rooted in the franchise's recent success. The Knicks defeated the San Antonio Spurs 4-1 in June 2026, with Jalen Brunson scoring 45 points in the clinching game, ending a 53-year title drought, as reported by Essentially Sports.

New York's case for repeating rests on continuity. Heavy reports that the core of Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges remains intact. The most notable departure was Mitchell Robinson, who signed with Boston, but the Knicks replaced him with Andre Drummond, per Heavy.

Beyond the Knicks and Celtics, the Eastern Conference has shifted dramatically. Heavy notes that Philadelphia added Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, Miami acquired Giannis Antetokounmpo and added Tim Hardaway Jr., and Toronto has a trade for Kawhi Leonard pending.

Perspectives

  • LaVar Ball's viewpoint: Ball viewed Justin Tatum's choice of the Knicks as a betrayal of his son's team, calling it "crazy" to not pick the Celtics. He framed the decision as a matter of family loyalty rather than basketball analysis.
  • Justin Tatum's viewpoint: Tatum defended his pick by pointing to Boston's roster, which he bluntly criticized as inadequate. His choice reflects a belief that the Knicks, with their championship core intact, are better positioned to win again than a Celtics team that just traded away a key star.