Boston Celtics: Jayson Tatum is ready to take “the leap” in 2019-20

After a long summer, Jayson Tatum has learned a lot about himself and the game of basketball. Is the rising star ready to “take the leap” for the Boston Celtics in 2019-20?

Although the Boston Celtics played their first preseason game of the year last week, it wasn’t the first game that Jayson Tatum has played in since the end of last season. The 21-year-old spent the summer playing for Team USA under the tutelage of coach Gregg Popovich.

Through personal experiences, I’ve learned that sometimes playing for other coaches and systems will show a player exactly what he brings to the table. I think playing for Team USA has done that for Boston’s budding star.

When the Celtics drafted Tatum with the 3rd overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, we all knew there were high expectations for the wing. Tatum has shown his team that he is confident and ready to be the guy they can rely on. I think this offseason was important to Tatum, and this could be the season we see him take his game to the next level.

Tatum scored a game high in points against the Charlotte Hornets in their first preseason game of the year. He finished the night with 20 points, four rebounds, three steals and one block. In their second preseason game against the Orlando Magic, Tatum accumulated yet another team high with 15 points to go along with five rebounds and three steals. He made some comments this summer about taking better shots and getting to the line more.

"“Shoot more threes. Threes, lay ups, and free throws. If you want to be a great scorer in this league, you have to get to the line. Free throws are super important. Getting to the basket and that opens up the rest of the game. Threes are worth more than two’s.”"

With Kemba Walker’s presence in Boston, Tatum should only be impacted in a positive manner. The 29-year-old is more of a traditional point guard who controls the floor and sets his teammates up. Tatum should flourish this season in pass-and-shoot situations. Walker is a smart player and will figure out how to get the absolute most out of his teammates. The All-NBA guard said this about Tatum, via. Tom Bontemps of ESPN:

"“He’s going to be a star. He really is. Just because of the way he works. Especially now, being around him in training camp and seeing the way he’s playing.”"

Along with attaining a better understanding of the game, it looks as though the third-year pro put on some size this summer. After Friday night’s game, Tatum told Boston Celtics reporter Marc D’ Amico another goal he has in mind for this season.

The Boston Celtics are in a great position to embark on a deep run into the playoffs in 2019-20 and Jayson Tatum looks ready to lead the way. It’s going to be intriguing to see how this season unfolds for the Boston Celtics.