Last season, the Boston Celtics won the 2024 NBA Championship because of their team-oriented basketball. They didn’t win it all because of any one player, but rather because of how deep their roster was. And heading into this season, they have the same exact core ready to run it back.
However, while the Celtics play a very all-around style of basketball, they still have some players who run the show, namely Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. But of all those players, Tatum still stands out amongst the pack because of how impactful he is when he’s on the floor.
And there’s one stat that proves it.
Jayson Tatum is the most important Celtic by far
As pointed out by Sean Grande of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Tatum’s on/off numbers this season are extreme. When he’s on the floor, the Celtics are incredible, but when he’s off the floor, they are nowhere near the best version of themselves.
As we've discussed at length on Celtics game broadcasts this year, the dramatic Jayson Tatum on/off numbers have returned.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) November 30, 2024
Boston is now...
+199 in 690 minutes with Tatum on the floor
+2 in 237 minutes with Tatum off the floor
Last year was the only year there was no drop off. pic.twitter.com/rUONJdQiHt
Tatum has the second-highest plus/minus in the NBA, as the Celtics have outscored opponents by 199 points when he’s been on the floor this season. But when he’s been off the court, the Celtics have only outscored opponents by two points.
That’s the biggest gap on the Celtics by far.
The second-highest plus/minus on the Celtics belongs to White, as Boston has outscored teams by 167 points with him on the floor this year. That’s a 32-point advantage in favor of Tatum. But that’s not where the crazy stat ends.
White also lays claim to the second-lowest off numbers on the Celtics, as Boston has only outscored their opponents by 34 points when he’s out of the game. But again, the difference between Tatum and the next guy up is wild.
Obviously, the Celtics are an amazing basketball team because of the incredible roster they have put together. Tatum cannot get all of the credit. But there’s no ignoring the numbers.
Boston is an undeniably better team with him on the floor, and the gap between him and the next Celtic in line for that title is massive.
Tatum is by far the most important player in Boston, and it’s been that way for a long, long time.
He’s well on his way to making his fourth straight All-NBA First Team this year and will likely end the season firmly in MVP conversations as well.
The impact he makes when he’s on the floor is unlike anyone else in Boston, and few players around the league can replicate it, either.