What does toughness look like in modern basketball? Is it a roar in victory? A glare in defeat? Or silent production night after night? “Softest superstar in Celtics history,” Brandon Jennings has declared his opinion on Jayson Tatum. And it ignited a culture clash that has rippled from NBA Twitter to Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast

In fact, Beverley wasted no time setting the record straight on The Pat Bev Pod. “Just because he not yelling, and you can see his tattoos, doesn’t mean he’s soft.” That was just the opener. Pat went all-in on praising Tatum’s game, adding, “He’s skilled as fu-k. I think he’s talented as fu-k. He has a ton of size…” For Beverley, toughness isn’t just about flexing or snarling—it’s about consistently showing up and getting it done, which, in his eyes, Tatum absolutely does.

He reinforced his point, insisting, “He doesn’t look like the normal tough guy doesn’t mean that he is not.” And then, without blinking, he flipped the script and aimed straight at Jennings. “I mean, he gets it done. He literally gets it done.” But the mic-drop moment? “When I guarded Brandon Jennings, I’m like he is soft a–.” No sugar-coating. Just straight-up smoke.

Tatum then responded to Jennings’ barb. He posted highlights of his gameplay on Instagram, along with the caption “SoFtesT SuPeRstar in CeLtiC HiStoRy” and a laughing face emoji. Even so, Jennings didn’t exactly back down. Four months later, on DJ Vlad’s platform, doubling down. According to him, Tatum’s game just doesn’t scream grit. “It’s just the way he plays.”

Yet Jennings conceded, tipping his hat, “He’s a great player, though, like I’m not going to take away from his talent, like what he’s done for his age and where he’s at is incredible.”

Jennings later clarified his stance. It wasn’t just about Tatum—it was about the legacy of that Celtics jersey. “But it’s just that Boston Celtics jersey, like, you know, when you think about the toughest dudes to be in a Boston Celtics, you know, Dennis Scott, Larry Bird, you know, you got KG and them, like Kevin McHale, like those guys are just like, yo, man, you’re going to have to really think about your life after this game,” he said.

And according to him, Tatum doesn’t give off that same vibe. “I don’t feel like guys think about that when they play against, you know, Jason Tatum.” So now the question is, how can Tatum stop these conversations? HOF Shaquille O’Neal has an answer.

Shaquille O’Neal came Jayson Tatum’s resuce

Not even a championship at 26 is enough to quiet the noise around Jayson Tatum. While most expected the Celtics’ title run to flip the narrative, it only sparked more criticism. Shaquille O’Neal didn’t sugarcoat it on The Big Podcast last year in July. “Boston had it easy… their road was too easy,” he said. Pointing to Boston’s 16–3 playoff run en route to the 2024 title, O’Neal zeroed in on a string of depleted opponents: Jimmy Butler limping through Miami with an ankle sprain, Donovan Mitchell nursing a bruised wrist in Cleveland, Tyrese Haliburton sidelined by a knee issue against Indiana, and even Luka Dončić relying on pain injections in the Finals.

So now the question is—what more does Tatum have to prove? Shaq didn’t leave fans guessing. For the Celtics star to truly earn his flowers, he needs to do it again. “It’s going to take another Celtics championship win next year in order to gain his respect,” the Hall of Famer said. That back-to-back bar isn’t idle hype. O’Neal—who carted off three consecutive rings in Los Angeles—knows that true dynasty status demands sustained excellence.

That’s a tall order, but it shows just how high the expectations are. Interestingly, Tatum himself seems unfazed. When Kiyan Anthony asked how he deals with the negativity on Overtime, he gave a response that shows his maturity: perspective.

“You got to look on the flip side,” Tatum told Kiyan. “They don’t talk about players that they don’t think are good or capable. You have to have a good support system, have an outlet; this basketball sh-t can get heavy sometimes.” That mindset says a lot about where he’s at mentally, even if the pressure doesn’t let up.

Criticism may swirl, but in today’s NBA, toughness is measured in consistency and impact. Some qualities Jayson Tatum has demonstrated night after night. As Shaquille O’Neal notes, another championship would silence doubts. Until then, Tatum’s true mettle shines through his numbers: 26.8 points, 8.7 boards, 6 assists on 45.2% shooting.