On alternating current like all the Celtics, Jayson Tatum does not convince frankly in what is already his 5th season in the NBA. The winger even suffered a dirty remark from a coach from the East … which is surely shared by part of the Boston locker room.
5th campaign in the league for Jayson Tatum, already. When the young Celtic, then rookie, had stood up to LeBron James during his very first playoffs in 2018, many were already predicting a royal future for him. Of course, all is not dark: the man has become an All-Star, remains for 2 consecutive seasons with more than 20 points of average, and is always so pleasant to see play. But will he pass the famous milestone?
To this question, many are circumspect. Yes, Tatum can return a supplied stats sheet, but does he know how to win? This season, in 18 games, the former Duke has averaged 25.7 points and 8.4 rebounds … but only 41.2% in shooting (his worst total in his career), and 33% at 3 points (also worst total).
Selfish Jayson Tatum? A coach from the East accuses
For a long paper that looks at the Celtics’ situation, ESPN reporter Tim Bontemps interviewed several people around the league. And an assistant-coach from the Eastern conference, who remained anonymous, does not go by 4 ways:
Jayson Tatum thinks only of Jayson Tatum. I don’t think he’s very interested in winning, and if he is, it’s only on his own terms. He doesn’t want to score 15 points and win. He wants to score 39 points and win.
A barely veiled accusation of selfishness, for the one who attracts several criticisms with his sometimes dubious selection of shots. In the entire NBA, Tatum is the 7th player taking the most contested shots, and he is 29th out of 30 in terms of effectiveness among the days having taken at least 75 shots in isolation this season …
This style of play not always “winning basketball”, to use an expression dear to the Americans, had earned JT shattering declines from Marcus Smart at the start of the season. The glitches seem to be settled, however, according to Smart, who said:
We had some problems at the start of the season. It’s part of the process, we try to see how to motivate each other and make it work. That’s what we do, it’s starting to fall into place. Obviously, we still have a lot of work to do, but we are on the right track.
Jayson Tatum is not unanimous in the NBA, it is obvious for now. It is up to him to work… and above all to win, to silence his detractors.
