In a blowout 131-104 win over the New York Knicks, Jayson Tatum had one of his best games of the season, exploding for 40 points, six rebounds, and four assists. Notably, this was Tatum’s second 40-point game this season, with the first being a 43-point outing against the Chicago Bulls. Tatum now has 27 career 40-point games. This was a statement win for the Boston Celtics, as the Knicks are just one seed behind them. The Celtics have outscored the Knicks by a combined 50 points in two games this season.
On Saturday night, Tatum moved into the Celtics’ top 10 all-time scoring list. To say the least, this is an impressive accomplishment for a 26-year-old, especially considering the Celtics’ illustrious history. Before Saturday’s game, Tatum had 13,153 total points, which ranked 11th in franchise history. Tatum’s 40-point performance pushed him up to ninth in franchise history, surpassing Jo Jo White and Dave Cowens. Currently, Tatum, Cowens, and White are separated by just five points. Tatum’s running mate, Jaylen Brown, ranks 15th on the Celtics all-time scorers list. Let’s explore Tatum’s recent achievement and his place among the Celtics’ greats.
Paolo Banchero 23 Pts vs Jayson Tatum 40 Pts! 2022-23 NBA Season
Jayson Tatum Moves Up the Celtics’ All-Time Scoring List After Dominant Game
After the game, head coach Joe Mazzulla praised Tatum’s accomplishment and called him underrated.
“I’m happy for him. I feel grateful. I joked with both of them [Tatum and Brown] that, like I didn’t have that on my bucket list to coach those two guys. It just kind of happened, and I’m really grateful that I get to coach him. I don’t take that for granted. But you know, that’s big time for him. He does it the right way. So, for him to be able to accomplish that while focused on winning and being a great teammate is really important. And I think he’s still underrated. He’s one of the best players out there.” Mazzulla said.
Mazzulla’s point about Tatum being focused on winning and being a great teammate is also crucial. Tatum has been the engine of Boston’s incredible success. Despite being one of the league’s most gifted scorers, Tatum has shown he can always make a winning impact with his defense, playmaking, and rebounding if he doesn’t have the hot hand.
Tatum’s Place in Celtics’ History
Tatum already has an incredible resume and has established himself as a Celtics great. Of course, last season, Tatum helped lead the Celtics to their 18th championship and the franchise’s first since 2008. Additionally, during the 2024 Finals run, Tatum surpassed Kobe Bryant for the most playoff points before turning 27.
In 2022-23, Tatum became the first Celtic to average 30 points in a single season; in that same season, he scored the most total points in the league. With 13,153 total points through seven and a half seasons, Tatum is on pace to surpass John Havlicek as the Celtics’ all-time leading scorer in his 15th season, assuming he stays in Boston. Tatum now needs 1,329 points to pass the legendary Bill Russell for eighth on the Celtics all-time leading scoring list. Ultimately, Tatum moving into the top 10 of the Celtics all-time leading scoring list is just the latest impressive accomplishment of his career.
