Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum. Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Celtics’ Jayson Tatum joins pair of stars with historic NBA Finals feat

By Jeff Smith | Last updated Jun 13, 2024 12:24 AM ET

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has heard it from critics throughout his career, and the noise has come from every angle imaginable. As Tatum stated following the team's 106-99 victory in Game 3 of the NBA Finals, the critics believe he's "not scoring enough" after initially stating he hadn't won a title.

But regardless of how Tatum is viewed, the numbers don't lie, and with the Celtics taking a 3-0 series lead against the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics star finds himself among some elite company.

There are three players in history to average 20 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the NBA Finals during their career, with Tatum becoming the third. He joins four-time MVP LeBron James and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, as StatMamba detailed.

Players to average 20/7/7 in their Finals career:

LeBron James
Nikola Jokic
Jayson Tatum pic.twitter.com/W5taGRbnan
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) June 13, 2024

It's hard to argue with Tatum's production this postseason, specifically because if he's not scoring, he's racking up stats in numerous other areas.

Tatum had a big night offensively in Game 3, scoring 31 points while grabbing six rebounds and five assists. But the story of his postseason play can be summed up by the Celtics' first two victories over the Mavericks.

In Game 1, Tatum scored 16 points while pulling down 11 rebounds and dishing out five assists. That performance was followed up in Game 2 with a near triple-double, as Tatum scored 18 points with 12 assists and nine rebounds.

The 26-year-old star is showcasing his all-around skillset at the highest level and doing so at the most important time for the Celtics. And while Tatum may not be leading Boston in scoring every night, his impact has played a massive part in the Celtics now sitting one win away from a title.

Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has extensive experience as a sports writer and editor, including stops at ESPN, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, USA TODAY SMG, and Heavy. Jeff's passion for sports content starts and finishes with writing and he's grateful to be able to work in that field on a daily basis.

More must-reads: