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Jayson Tatum is all but guaranteed to take over unwanted crown

Tatum's return is about to become the biggest story in the NBA
ByBen Handler|
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Jan 30, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shares a laugh with Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) as they wait to check in at the scorers table during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
Jan 30, 2021; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) shares a laugh with Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) as they wait to check in at the scorers table during the first quarter at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

The NBA trade deadline has passed, the All-Star Game is behind us, and it’s too soon to start focusing on seeding and playoff matchups. This is historically a bit of a dead zone for the NBA; a calm before the storm, so to speak. 

But the league needs storylines, and like it or not, the biggest story in the NBA for the next month or so is going to be the return of Jayson Tatum. No contenders made all-in moves for blue-chip players at the deadline, but Boston has a chance to add a top-5 player in hte league to their lineup before the playoffs.

A return this season isn’t a guarantee, but momentum is certainly building. Tatum has scrimmaged with coaches, practiced with the G League team, and now he has announced a five-part mini docuseries that will start airing on NBC this Sunday about his recovery.

All signs point to a season debut coming very soon, and Tatum and the Celtics aren’t exactly doing anything but fanning the flames with their actions. Bill Simmons certainly isn’t the first to say it, and he won’t be the last, but he went on his podcast Sunday night with Zach Lowe and outlined this exact point.

The news cycle will be dominated by tanking talk, March Madness, maybe an MVP race…. And Tatum.

Tatum’s potential return is the biggest story in the NBA right now

The only thing that could truly swing the title race this year, outside of a catastrophic injury, is a successful return for Tatum. The Celtics are holding strong in 2nd place in the Eastern Conference at 35-19, far ahead of anyone’s expectations. As it stands, they are, at best, fringe contenders in a weak East, but even that is fairly incredible.

Adding Tatum back into the mix, even at 60-80% of what he was, would make a massive impact. JT is one of the most malleable players in the NBA, and there’s no doubt he’s going to be able to focus on what he can do well and fit perfectly into this team, which is far from perfect.

If he can give them rebounding, floor spacing, and an occasional threat to do more, that’s already a very good player, and if he can ramp up over the next month or so, and hit the ground running once the playoffs start, no team’s going to want to face the Celtics in a playoff series.

There are a lot of hurdles to clear, and a million variables at play, but the upside possibilities are tantalizing. That’s what makes this such a gripping story, and that’s why, like it or not, Tatum is going to watch his comeback dominate the NBA news cycle for the coming months.

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