When basketball fans look at the list of best players 25 and under Luka Donic name is always at the top of the list. Every GM would choose to build around Luka over any player in NBA under 25 and there are only about 3 players GM's wouldn't pick over Luka. There's no doubt in anyone's mind Luka Donic is a superstar but what about Jayson Tatum?
The Celtcs drafted Tatum in 2017 with the 3rd pick. Tatum a big Laker fan due to his admiration for Kobe Bryant wanted to be a Laker. The Lakers had other plans of drafting Lonzo Ball he had the hype around him thanks to his dad Lavar and the fact he went too UCLA Magic Johnson was infactuated by him and wanted a point guard to replace D'Angelo Russel. The Celtics had the number 1 pick and could have drafted Tatum all along but Danny Ainge is an evil genius. The clever guy that he is drafts down as he knew the Sixers wanted Markell Fultz so he traded the number one pick and a future first rounder. This might of been the steel of the decade. Tatum would make an immediate impact on a team that was ready too compete for a championship. In the regular season he averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 43 percent from the free throw line. But it was in the playoffs where Tatum proved he was the best rookie in the league. Kyrie suffered a season ending injury in the spring that season Most people were counting them out too lose in the first roumd but the Celtics rallied together and made the Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum averaged 18 points a game throughout those playoffs leading the Celtics in scoring. He even came up big in a game 7 against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers he scored 24 points grabbed 7 rebounds dished out 7 assist and had a monster dunk on LeBron. Tatum had his I've arrived moment. From that day he started his journey to superstardom.
What is a superstar? On the court a superstar in my opinion is someone who can lead a team to a conference finals, the finals and be the best player player on a championship team. For example I feel as though Jimmy Butler is a superstar and Paul George is not. I don't think Paul George can be the number 1 option of a championship contending team in 2022. He may be more of a fancy player a player we love to watch because of how skilled he is but he is. Jimmy Butler in the last two years has lead the Heat to the finals where he put up an historic performance and the Eastern conference finals where he put up an historic game 6 and game 7. Jimmy Butler can lead a team to the promise land he has shown it. He's mentally and physically tough to handle the pressure and grind of the post season. A superstar too me is more than your jersey sales and instagram followers. It's about can you get it done in the trenches.
This postseason Jayson Tatum proved he could lead a team to the finals. When the seeding was announced for the playoffs and the 2 seed Celtics were matched up against the 7 seed Nets most experts were expecting the Nets to win KD and Kyrie are a dangerous duo but the Celtics proved to have the better team. The Celtics had the best defense in the league thanks to first year head coach Ime Udoku. Marcus Smart was named defensive player of the year the first guard too be given that award since Gary Payton in 1996. The Celtics had two big men Robert Williams and Al Horford were controlling the paint. Jaylen Brown who was having a break out year as a two way player would have a even better post season. Tatum was the glue that brought it all together he averaged 30 points 5 rebounds and 7 assists. He outplayed Kevin Durant on both sides of the floor proving that he desereved that spot over him on the All NBA First team. The Celtics swept the Nets in shocking fashion.
Throughout NBA history superstars have had to go through another superstar to get their respect. Magic Johnson had to go through Larry Bird. Michael Jordan had too go through Magic Johnson. In 2008 a Celtic legend Paul Pierce went through LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in order to win his first and only championship. Jayson Tatum hoped to make another statement as he would face the reigning Finals MVP Giannis Anetokumpo he is considered the worlds best player and if Tatum was going too take that next step in becoming a superstar he was going to have to go through Giannis. In game 6 down 3-2 on the road Jayson Tatum put up one of the greatest performances in NBA history he had 46 points and 9 rebounds. He out-duled Giannis to keep the Celtics alive evening up the series 3-3. The Celtics would eventually close them out the following game with a team victory but Tatum had proven he could match up against the world's best and come out victorious.
The two biggest words in sports are GAME 7. The Celtics found themselves in a game 7 because of inconsistent play Tatum included. The Heat in that seriously doubled teamed Tatum effectively not allowing him to play one on one or get in a rhythm. Game 7 on the road would be no different the Heat swarmed him sending multiple bodies at Tatum he responded well making the right play and trusting his teammates more importantly he trusted in his own abilities. Old heads at the park used to tell me if you take a bad shot you don't trust in your game. Tatum trusted in his game in the fourth quarter. He made timely baskets to help the Celtics advance too the Finals. Tatum finished with 26 points and was awarded the Larry Bird Eastern Conference Finals MVP.
Every superstar has come up short. LeBron has lost in the finals 6 times, Kobe lost a 3-1 lead, Magic choked in 84, Shaq was swept 4 times and Jordan failed to get past the Bad Boy Pistons on many occasions. Those are some of the greatest players too ever play the game and they failed. There failures do not take away from there greatness. Jayson Tatum failed in the finals averaged 22 points 7 rebounds and 7 assist. He shot below 40 percent from the field and broke the all time turnover record in the post season. He looked confused and unsure of himself for most of the finals. He had a tough time adjusting to the speed of the game. Many people dismissed him as a super star after this series. I didn't I saw a player who was capable of leading a team to the finals. A player who could succeed when times got rough. I saw a super star struggle at the highest stage just like I have in the past. Jayson Tatum will continue to grow the next step for him is too became a champion because he already is a superstar.
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