Boston Celtics: 2 superstars less deserving of All-NBA than Jayson Tatum
By Mark Nilon
Player less deserving than the Boston Celtics stud No. 1) LeBron James
Due to the fact that he’s, well, LeBron James, it’s essentially a forgone conclusion that we’ll wind up seeing the superstar making his way onto an All-NBA team by year’s end, but his individual production throughout the year all but guarantees him his 17th-straight spot on one of the illustrious teams.
As of this writing, the megastar forward finds himself boasting truly impressive all-around averages of 30.1 points (best mark in the league), 8.2 rebounds, 6.3 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game on 52.3 percent shooting from the floor and 36 percent shooting from deep.
The level at which James finds himself playing is truly astonishing, and the fact that he’s 37-years-old and in the midst of his 19th NBA season makes it all the more impressive.
That said, unfortunately, despite his efforts, the Los Angeles Lakers as a whole are performing like one of, if not the most disappointing teams in the entire league, sporting a sub-.500 record of 31-44 and fighting for a spot, not just in this year’s playoffs, but in the 2022 play-in tournament as well (something they’re clinging onto for dear life in the 10th seed).
Considering that they were viewed as a top-3 favorite in virtually every preseason title-odds list coming into the year, where they currently find themselves is a massive disappointment.
Now, while an All-NBA selection is almost entirely based on individual accomplishments, seeing as though LA has a real chance of missing out on the playoffs entirely, we find it hard to justify LeBron being placed on an All-NBA team ahead of someone like Jayson Tatum, a player who, with his respective play and production, has willed the Boston Celtics from the lottery-bound pits of the Eastern Conference to have a fighting chance at realistically nabbing the No. 1 seed in the standings come season’s end.
Don’t get us wrong, LBJ certainly deserves an All-NBA nod for his unbelievable production throughout the year, but seeing him placed ahead of someone like Tatum would simply be a travesty in our eyes.