Ranking the top 5 players of the Brad Stevens Celtics era
By Ray Petree
1. Jayson Tatum
If Danny Ainge’s trade with the Brooklyn Nets was the heist of the century, then Jayson Tatum was the crown jewel.
The Celtics used the Brooklyn Nets’ 2017 first-round pick to draft Tatum third overall. In his first season, Tatum led the team in points per game during the postseason, helping the Celtics reach the Eastern Conference Finals. While the Celtics lost in a decisive Game 7, Tatum’s poise helped establish a new normal for the team.
STatum has blossomed into a perennial MVP contender and premier three-level scorer, leading the Celtics in scoring in each of the last five seasons. In that time, he’s helped the Celtics stage multiple deep postseason runs, which finally culminated in the team’s championship last season.
In the Finals, Tatum's versatility was on full display as he led the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists per game against the Dallas Mavericks. Defensively, Tatum was stellar, accepting all assignments, from Luka Doncic to Derrick Lively II and everyone in between.
Tatum will still be 26 years old when the 2024-25 season begins. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and LeBron James were all between the ages of 27 and 32 when they finally reached their apex. That means Jayson Tatum is still potentially on the cusp of another breakthrough before he finally reaches the peak of his powers.
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