Jayson Tatum has been on a constant trajectory since arriving in Boston. Each year, he has improved, and this year has been no different.
On Tuesday night, his performance against the Raptors underscored his evolution into arguably the NBA’s top player. Tallying 19 points, 11 assists, and a game-high +20 in 40 minutes, Tatum drew effusive praise from Toronto head coach Darko Rajaković.
“That guy is the best player on the best team in the NBA,” Rajaković said. “I don’t think he gets enough credit for what he does on both ends of the floor for that team. Offensively, defensively, we tried different things against him. We were trying to frustrate him with our physicality, and he just kept going and kept making the right decision. They’re really lucky to have a player like him. Amazing player. I’m a really, really big fan of his.”
The most telling part of Rajaković’s quote is when he praises Tatum for consistently making the right decisions. In the past, Tatum’s ability to balance playmaking with his scoring instincts was often scrutinized. As he grew into Boston’s central creator, he would often revert to a scorer.
There were signs of what was to come as he continued to hone his craft and improve as a creator. He consistently made the right plays in the NBA Finals, using his gravity and Boston’s elite floor spacing to create opportunities for his teammates. He didn’t feel the need to drop 30 points every night to make an impact. Most importantly, when facing Luka Doncic, Tatum didn’t fall into the trap of trying to match him point-for-point. Instead of forcing shots, he took advantage of the extra attention the Mavericks’ defense gave him, finding open teammates and showing that his maturity isn’t just about scoring—it’s about making the right play at the right time.
Now, Tatum is truly taking another step forward as a creator and facilitator, and it’s been especially evident over the last few games. His 11 assists – a career-high nine of which came in the first half – in Toronto on Tuesday night pushed him to thirty total assists over his last three games, a career-high for a three-game span. Over the last five seasons, only three Celtics have recorded 30 assists over a span of three games: Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and now, Tatum. In the last 10 seasons, it’s only been Smart, White, Kyrie Irving, Isaiah Thomas, and Rajon Rondo to post such numbers.
Tatum has recorded 10 or more assists in seven games this season, matching his career total from his first seven years in the league. Furthermore, for those who track these things (count me in), Tatum is averaging 11.6 potential assists per game, a testament to how well he is reading the game.
“It makes our lives easier,” Derrick White said with a smile and a smoothie in his hand when asked how Tatum creating for others impacts the team. “So shoutout, JT. For sure.”
Tatum is averaging a career-high 5.8 assists per game, the second-most by any forward in the Eastern Conference, behind Scottie Barnes. According toNBA.com’s (sometimes questionable position filters), Tatum ranks sixth among forwards in the league in assists, trailing LeBron James, Luka Doncic (?), Ben Simmons (?), Domantas Sabonis (?), and Barnes. — Editor’s note: The “?” signifies a player who may be, but probably is not, a forward, but NBA.com lists them as one.
One of the things head coach Joe Mazzulla is most proud of Tatum for is his ability to not be defined solely by scoring. It’s something Mazzulla has expressed frequently – an ability Tatum proves more and more capable of. He is seeing in the floor at an elite level, and it’s taking the Celtics’ offense to another gear.
“I think he is a very highly intrinsically motivated person that has the opportunity to do great things individually and as a team,” said Mazzulla. “He wakes up every day with that motivation and that opportunity. To be 27 and have the career that he’s had, with also, the opportunity, God willing, that he has going forward. He has an understanding of where he can get to and where he can help the team get to. And so, he’s motivated by those two things.”
If this is the type of player Jayson Tatum is going to consistently be—a triple-double threat every night—then that long-awaited MVP award will be making its way to the Auerbach Center sooner rather than later.
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