Carmelo Anthony shares strange comment about Jayson Tatum
![Carmelo Anthony used a common trope that should go away to get at Jayson Tatum Carmelo Anthony used a common trope that should go away to get at Jayson Tatum](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2077,h_1168,x_0,y_466/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/18/01j3dx2tcdc36w4dh05a.jpg)
Carmelo Anthony said that Jayson Tatum isn't the face of the NBA because he doesn't have the "aura" that Anthony Edwards does. Melo then went on to say that if Tatum did have that level of "aura," it'd be over.
Melo was alluding to the type of deadly game-winning plays Edwards made in the first round of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the Phoenix Suns. And to his point, all of that social media praise probably is fun for these players to playfully boast about with their inner circles.
But Celtics fans sure don't give a damn about aura with Banner 18 soon to be in the rafters the 2024 Larry O' Brien Trophy was hoisted by the TD Garden home team.
That championship reality for Melo isn't comfortable, since it may not take long for Tatum to start appearing ahead of him on all-time wing lists. Jaylen Brown is certainly on his way too.
And let's not forget that Jalen Brunson is really starting to surpass him in New York Knicks lore. Taking a pay-cut to help the team win after helping his team win? Certainly nothing the 2014 offseason saw with Melo's own Knicks extension.
Jayson Tatum beats Carmelo Anthony accusations easily
Tatum doesn't need to defend anything about his career. He's on a different level of winner than Melo, and while he didn't stick out as much due to his more complementary play-style, his title win is aura enough for most critical-thinking conversations to say Tatum has face-of-the-league potential.
What makes the Celtics such an interesting case is that Brown is as close to Tatum than any other championship duo ever. Every champion usually has a clear best player, but Brown muddied those waters the past three offseasons with his strong play.
If anything, Tatum's standing takes a hit to many because he isn't clearly the best player on his team always.
But again, he's a champion and just got the richest contract in NBA history? Do we think he even cares about his name coming up in "aura" conversations?