Basketball is a game of moments, but some moments are just louder than others. If you were watching Game 7 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals, you know exactly which one I’m talking about. The score was tight. The tension in TD Garden was thick enough to cut with a championship ring. Then, with about 6:40 left in the fourth quarter, a 20-year-old rookie named Jayson Tatum did the unthinkable.
He didn't just score. He drove the lane, elevated, and a Jayson Tatum dunks on LeBron highlight was born that effectively changed the trajectory of his career. It wasn't just two points. It was a "passing of the torch" ceremony that LeBron James wasn't exactly invited to, yet he had the best seat in the house—right under the rim.
The Anatomy of the Slam: May 27, 2018
To understand why people still search for this clip every single day, you have to remember the context. The Boston Celtics were playing without Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward. They were a "scrappy" young team that wasn't supposed to be there. LeBron, meanwhile, was in the middle of one of the most dominant post-season runs in NBA history. He was the final boss of the Eastern Conference.
Tatum caught the ball at the top of the key. He saw a sliver of space. Most rookies would have settled for a floater or a kick-out pass when they saw the 6'9", 250-pound "King" waiting in the paint. Not Tatum. He took one hard left-hand dribble, exploded off his feet, and met LeBron at the summit.
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The sound of the rim was deafening. But the aftermath was even more shocking. Tatum didn't just run back on defense; he aggressively bumped LeBron with his chest and let out a primal scream.
Why the "Bump" Was Such a Big Deal
In the NBA, there's an unwritten hierarchy. You don't usually taunt the greatest player of his generation when you're still young enough to be on your parents' phone plan. Tatum broke that rule.
Honestly, looking back at it, it was a moment of pure adrenaline. Tatum has since admitted in interviews—specifically on the All The Smoke podcast—that he sort of "blacked out" in the moment. He was so caught up in the intensity of Game 7 that the fear of LeBron James simply evaporated.
Interestingly, LeBron's reaction was surprisingly composed. Instead of getting into a shoving match, he eventually gave the kid his flowers. After the game, LeBron told reporters, "I just love everything about the kid. The way he plays the game, his demeanor, where he comes from."
The "Get Back" Narrative
Did you know Tatum actually had a reason to be extra aggressive? Earlier that season, in his very first NBA game, Tatum tried to take it to the rim and LeBron blocked him. Welcome to the league, kid.
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Tatum later joked that the Game 7 dunk was his "get-back." It was a full-circle moment that started in October and ended in the biggest game of the year. While the Celtics ultimately lost that game 87-79 and missed out on the Finals, the dunk served as a definitive proof of concept. Jayson Tatum wasn't just a "good rookie." He was a superstar in waiting.
Stats from that Night
- Jayson Tatum: 24 points, 7 rebounds, and one iconic poster.
- LeBron James: 35 points, 15 rebounds, 9 assists.
- The Result: Cavs won the game, but the Celtics won the future.
How the Dunk Changed Tatum's Reputation
Before that play, Tatum was viewed as a smooth, polished scorer from Duke. He was "steady." After he dunks on LeBron, the narrative shifted toward his "dog" mentality. It showed he wouldn't back down from the brightest lights.
Think about the players who have tried to posterize LeBron over the years. Many have tried; few have succeeded without getting their shot pinned against the glass. By successfully finishing that play, Tatum joined a very short list of players who actually got the best of LeBron in a high-stakes playoff environment.
The Long-Term Impact on the Celtics-LeBron Rivalry
This play didn't just stay in 2018. It set the stage for every matchup between Tatum and LeBron for the next several years. Whether it was the duel in Los Angeles in 2020 where Tatum dropped 41, or their battles once LeBron moved to the Lakers, there's always been a different level of respect between them.
You can literally see the influence of that moment in how Tatum approaches big games now. He carries himself like someone who belongs. He has a photo of that dunk in his house. Wouldn't you? If you posterized one of the top two players to ever pick up a basketball in a Game 7, that photo is going over the fireplace.
Common Misconceptions
Some fans remember the Celtics winning that game because the dunk was so impactful. They didn't. The Cavs actually went on a run shortly after.
Others think LeBron was angry. He really wasn't. If anything, LeBron looked more impressed than anything else. He’s a student of the game, and he knew he was watching the arrival of the next great wing player in the league.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans and Collectors
If you're a basketball junkie looking to dive deeper into this specific piece of NBA history, here's what you should do next:
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- Watch the 360-degree replays: There are versions of this highlight on YouTube that show the angle from the floor. It looks even more physically impossible from the baseline.
- Check the Memorabilia Value: Rookie cards of Jayson Tatum from the 2017-18 season (especially the ones released after this playoff run) saw a massive spike in value because of this specific post-season.
- Analyze the Footwork: If you play ball, watch Tatum’s last step before the jump. He uses a "pro-hop" style gather that gives him the leverage to go through LeBron's chest rather than around it.
Basically, the Jayson Tatum dunk on LeBron wasn't just a play; it was a shift in the NBA's ecosystem. It told us that the next generation was ready to compete, even if the "King" wasn't quite ready to give up his throne yet. If you want to see where the modern version of Jayson Tatum was born, look no further than that six-minute mark in the fourth quarter of Game 7.
To see how this moment compares to other modern playoff posters, you should look into Jaylen Brown's dunk on Giannis Antetokounmpo or Anthony Edwards' recent exploits, which carry that same "no-respect" energy that Tatum pioneered back in 2018.