Last week, after the Celtics thrashed the 76ers in Philadelphia, Jayson Tatum told reporters that he eventually wants the next generation to think of him the same way LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are viewed now.

Tatum, who has a championship, six All-Star appearances, and a supermax contract extension under his belt before he turns 27 next week, has already accomplished a lot and appears to be putting himself in position to chase some of the all-time greats.

However, in a recent Washington Post interview, Tatum was asked if he feels appreciated for what he has accomplished, and he said no.

“Honestly, no,” Tatum said. “If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments and you’re just like ‘This is what this Player A accomplished at 26,’ people would talk about [me] a lot differently.”

There has been some debate about who will be the face of the NBA once James, Curry, and Durant retire. Anthony Edwards, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic and Victor Wembanyama, are among those whose names have been in the mix.

Tatum, who was third behind Curry and James on the NBA’s list of top-selling jerseys during the first half of the season, said his accomplishments on and off the court fit the criteria of what a face of the league should look like.

“I don’t really want to insert myself in things that can be debated,” Tatum said. “Did he win a championship? Yes. Did he win gold medals? Yes. Was he first-team All-NBA? Those are things that you know are hard evidence. They can always debate. But it’s like I check off all the boxes.”

NBA 2k selected Tatum as the cover athlete for the “NBA 2K25” video game. Tatum has numerous endorsement deals and commercials. He made first-team All-NBA each of the past three seasons. He is one of the most recognizable faces in the NBA. The defending champion Celtics sold more merchandise than any other team in the first half of this season.

Tatum’s public persona can come across as quiet or laid back. While he’s expressed feelings of being under appreciated, Tatum said he’s not interested in changing his personality.

“I’m not trying to be somebody that I’m not,” Tatum said. “I’m comfortable in you being who you are.”

Tatum is a champion. It took years to get there after he was drafted to the Celtics. He could have used his championship moment to address his detractors. His trainer, Drew Hanlen, said Tatum prioritizes proving his supporters right over proving his doubters wrong.

“And I think that’s what people don’t like about him so much is they can’t rattle him,” Hanlen said. “He’s so bulletproof. And ultimately, he’s playing a game against himself, trying to become the best version of Jayson Tatum that he can become.”