BOSTON (AP) — Jayson Tatum has a new tattoo on his back, another gold medal around his neck and a chip on his shoulder.

The Boston Celtics star began his eighth NBA season on Tuesday after an eventful few months helping the franchise win an 18th championship and then joined the US team for his Victory at the Paris Gamesonly to be relegated to being a supporting actor and benched for two games in the middle of the Olympics.

“It was tough in real time,” Tatum said at the Celtics’ media day, acknowledging that it would “probably motivate” him if the Celtics tried to defend their NBA title.

“Did I need extra motivation at the beginning of the season? No,” said Tatum, whose new tattoo features a picture of himself holding the championship trophy. “It was a unique situation – something I’ve never experienced in my playing career. But I believe everything happens for a reason.”

The Celtics return to practice on Wednesday, and the biggest obstacle to a repeat championship title could be the complacency that can set in after the first win. That’s why Tatum’s Olympic humiliation could be exactly what coach Joe Mazzulla was looking for to keep his star focused. (Tatum was also passed over for Finals MVP in favor of teammate Jaylen Brown, who – having entered the league a year earlier – was also the highest-paid player in the NBA.)

“Joe was probably the happiest person in the world that I wasn’t named MVP of the Finals and didn’t play in two games of the Olympics,” Tatum said. “So that was weird. But knowing Joe, it makes sense.”

Brown also has a bruised ego. was not selected for the Olympic team and complained about the snub on social media. Reporters didn’t wait long to ask Brown about it.

“Damn. Question No. 1,” Brown said, laughing. “Can’t I warm up a little?”

“Bygones are bygones,” he said. “I’m extremely motivated for obvious reasons. I’m ready to get going.”

The Celtics had the shortest offseason in the league. They beat Dallas in the NBA Finals on June 17, then returned to practice about a week earlier than most other NBA teams because they open preseason training in Abu Dhabi on October 4. Three of them didn’t even have a summer break: Tatum, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White all played for the United States in the Olympics.

Holiday said the break was sufficient.

“I love this game, so basketball isn’t a nuisance to me or anything,” he said. “I think I love my job. I’ve had some great experiences this summer, and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”

The Celtics return with virtually the same roster that won it all: Fifteen players are back from last year’s team, including the top 11 scorers. The last NBA team to win two consecutive titles was the Golden State Warriors, who won three in four seasons from 2015 to 2018.

“It was never about just winning once,” Tatum said. “All the guys I looked up to as a kid won at least one championship. Now it’s just about how great you want to be.”

Mazzulla said having the same team back can be good or bad: new players would bring a new, unquenched hunger. But even with the same team, the season will be different and the team will face the challenge of adapting.

“There are advantages and disadvantages to both. If I had to choose one, I would choose the one we have,” Mazzulla said. “Just because something worked before doesn’t mean it will work again. So where do we need to stay the way we are and where do we need to change?”

Brad Stevens, the Celtics’ president of basketball operations, remembers the offseason after coaching Butler to the NCAA championship game, when the team lost on a missed three-pointer with the final whistle blowing. “All summer long, you get praised and you hear how great you are,” he said.

“To me, that’s the biggest challenge you can get as a competitor, so we should be excited about it,” Stevens said. “You know what your goal is. You know what human nature is going to play against you. You’ve been through that. What we should have is the confidence to get through anything.”

And in case he needed additional motivation, Stevens said he didn’t have the opportunity to hold the championship trophy this summer.

“Nobody offered it to me,” he said. “Maybe that’s the next goal, right? You have to get one more and in the second year you’ll get the chance to take it for a day.”

Injury Updates

Center Kristaps Porzingis, who underwent surgery during the offseason to repair the ankle injury that limited him to seven playoff games during the championship run, said he was recovering well.

“I don’t know if we want to put a timetable on him because the injury is unique,” Stevens said. “We’re very, very pleased with his condition and maybe a little surprised.”

Stevens said Luke Kornet (wrist) and Xavier Tillman Sr. (knee) also underwent procedures during the offseason and are on track to be fit for the Oct. 22 opener against the New York Knicks.

White has spent most of the summer dealing with dental problems he sustained after falling in the deciding game of the Finals. White said he had three root canals last week and will have to go back to the dentist to finish things up.

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