Jayson Tatum spoke after the Boston Celtics' 124-104 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. When talking about his impact on the sport of basketball, Tatum noted that he wanted the current generation to look at him the way he and his generation looked at LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. He wants to be a figurehead and an inspiration for the coming generation.
“I've been very accomplished at a young age. The truth is, I envision myself as one of those guys — the Lebron, Steph, KDs. I want the next generation to view me as that.”
Jayson Tatum is just 27 years old and is already one of the most accomplished players in the NBA. He's a former NBA champion, six-time All-Star, earned four All-NBA selections, and won two Olympic gold medals. There is an argument to be made that he is one of the best players in the league today.
This season, Tatum is playing quite well, averaging 26.8 points, 8.7 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field, 35.7% from beyond the arc, and 79.6% from the free-throw line. He is playing really well this season, as the Celtics look to defend their crown as NBA champions in what has proven to be a tough Eastern Conference.
Tatum has been in the NBA for almost eight years now and has made quite an impact on the league. He and Jaylen Brown have worked tirelessly together to lead the Celtics back out of the dark ages and into perennial contention. And while the road to the top has not been easy for either star, they have been successful in their journey, helping raise a historic 18th banner at T.D. Garden last summer.
Tatum Striving To Prove Critics Wrong
Jayson Tatum, despite his talent and accolades, often comes under fire from critics for not being able to perform at the highest level when the lights are on bright.
His performance in the NBA Finals was criticized for not being as efficient as he should be. He averaged 22.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 38.8% from the field, 26.3% from beyond the arc, and 92.6% from the free-throw line.
This is one of the biggest reasons he is not considered to be at the highest level of NBA stars. Until Tatum is able to prove the naysayers wrong by stepping up in the big moments, he is not going to be considered among the elite players in the league.
That isn't to say that Tatum is looked at as an average player. Far from it, Tatum is considered an amazing player who hasn't yet shown his ability to be elite when it matters most. Fans expect him to be great and are often left slightly disappointed when he delivers at that level. Hopefully, that will change in the months and years to come.
