Celtics star Jayson Tatum recently did a takeover of NBA Reddit, answering all kinds of questions from curious fans.
Perhaps one of the most interesting questions was from one user who asked Tatum which players were the toughest for him to guard. In response, Tatum named two stars: Paul George and Kawhi Leonard.
‘I think for my own individual matchup, Kawhi and Paul George. Those are two guys I looked up to before I got into the league.’
Tatum has matched up against some pretty steep competition, including LeBron James. And while PG and Kawhi are exceptional players, some did express shock that he named them as the toughest players he’s guarded.
‘Honestly surprised (and I guess honored) that it’s these two guys. I wonder why. Paul George can be silky smooth and Kawhi’s got some great moves, but there are a few other guys that can really make it rain.’
Naturally, the Clippers are among the most hated teams in the league which means, by extension, their two stars are also pretty widely disliked.
Last season, George and Kawhi failed to advance the Clippers past the Western Semi-Finals, losing to the Nuggets after going up 3-1 in the series.
Since that moment, it has been a firestorm of criticism for the pair, and for George especially.
Now, though, the Clippers are looking pretty solid, and the L.A. swingmen have become solid MVP candidates, with PG averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on 47.9% shooting, and Kawhi putting up 25.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. And while it’s good to hear Tatum give them their due respect, things will ultimately come down to what they can do in the playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how far they’re able to go, and if they’re able to make amends for last year’s failures.
