Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics' Jayson Tatum isn't receiving the credit he deserves

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 5/22/24

Jayson Tatum has helped lead the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals. He is the best player on that team. He has adapted his game to become a complete basketball player. Not only is he an All-Star in terms of offensive production, but he's also developing into an elite defender at the highest level.

The problem for Tatum is that all his early success in his career is now working against him. He is playing in his fifth conference finals. He has already been to an NBA Finals. Yet, he has been unable to help bring a championship back to Boston. For that reason, the media are punishing him. Some of the criticism is fair; after all, he is shooting 27.8% from the perimeter in his 11 playoff games this season. Most of the criticism misses the mark, though.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Tim MacMahon declared that regardless of who makes it out of the Western Conference, Tatum wouldn't be the best player in a potential NBA Finals matchup.

"No matter who wins the West, Tatum will not be the best player in the Finals," MacMahon said on Tuesday's episode of 'The Hoop Collective.' "... Tatum is not a better player right now than Anthony Edwards."

Anthony Edwards is enjoying a captivating playoff run. He's emerging as a young star in the NBA. He is not, however, a better player than Tatum. Yes, Edwards is more aggressive on offense. And yes, Edwards is making a significant impact on his team. But no, he is not the level of playmaker, defender, rebounder or screener that Tatum is. Those things matter. There is more to being an elite basketball player than putting the ball through the hoop.

Tatum has ascended the need to force his offense. He lets the game come to him. He impacts winning on a multitude of levels. He is a top-10 talent in the league — some could argue that he's a top-five. It's unfair to judge Tatum against Edwards when the Minnesota Timberwolves star is embarking on his first major postseason run.

Basketball is a team game. Tatum is playing a team-centric brand of basketball. It's time he stops being punished for playing the game the right way rather than being a heliocentric ball hog. Perhaps the narrative will shift if he finally wins his first championship ring in June.

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