Celtics swingman Jayson Tatum is on the shortlist of candidates to take over as the next face of the NBA, but not everyone agrees on where he ranks among the best players today. As for Kevin Durant, he recently revealed his belief that the young star not only has the potential to be one of the best in the game but that he has the potential among the best players in NBA history.
“I’ve been in this league a long time now and I know when it’s a passing of the guard,” said Durant, via Arizona Central’s Duane Rankin. “I know when the young dudes are going to come in and do the same thing the older guys are doing. He’s one of those guys that’s likely going to control the league for the next 10, 12 years and be a staple in our game and the history of our game.”
The words come ahead of a crucial cross-conference matchup against Tatum’s Celtics this week, who have had the No. 1 seed on lock for weeks now. It’s arguably the biggest test of the season for the Suns, who are in a particularly mediocre stretch right now (5-5 in their last 10) amid a frustrating season.
Durant, a 15-year veteran, and 4x champion, is one of the most highly respected players in the league right now and it’s no secret that he harbors a deep appreciation for Tatum. Years ago, when Jayson was still in High School, Durant knew he was going to be a star and he believed in him from the very beginning.
It’s only fitting that now, with Tatum finally ready to take his place at the top of the league, Durant is among this most vocal supporters both on and off the court. This season is arguably the best Tatum has been in some time and it’s his best chance yet of calling himself a champion.
Jayson Tatum Has The Most Pressure To Win The 2024 Championship
With averages of 27.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game on 47.3% shooting, Tatum was making a solid case for MVP this season and some experts would argue it’s the best stretch of his entire career. Unfortunately for Jayson, there’s little he can do in the regular season to boost his legacy.
After years of failure in the postseason, including a loss in the Finals and two defeats in the Conference Finals, the Celtics came into this season with a sense of urgency to make amends for their past mistakes.
As the best player on the team and the de-facto leader of the squad, Jayson Tatum is at the center of it all and the conversation typically starts with him when discussing why the Celtics have yet to close the deal on an NBA championship.
Tatum has responded to the noise as well as anyone can expect and the Celtics have been rolling to open a 9.5-game lead for the top spot in the East. But until Tatum leads Boston to a Finals victory, there will always be some doubt about his leadership ability.
Guys like Kevin Durant have seen enough to know what Tatum is capable of, and now he needs to back it up by rising to the occasion just like every other all-time great once had to do during their own careers.
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