The Boston Celtics are entering the 2021-22 NBA season with hopes of competing for an NBA Finals appearance. In a loaded Eastern Conference, a lot of their success will depend on how far Jayson Tatum can take them. Tatum has become one of the NBA’s elite stars, but he has plenty of room left to grow as well.
Tatum is fresh off of a gold medal performance with Team USA during the Summer Olympics. It was a big journey for him, but one that taught him a lot about how to continue improving as a player.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Tatum has opened up about the next step in his goal to become a top-five superstar in the NBA.
“I just got to be better. I have to elevate my level from being one of the top 10 to 15 players to a top-5 player. I have to try to make everyone else around me better.”
Needless to say, Tatum is absolutely correct about the next step in his superstar development. If he can get to where he makes everyone better around him, he can truly be called an elite superstars. Many before him were able to get to that point, which made their team a championship contender each and every season.
Last year, Tatum put together big-time numbers once again. He averaged 26.4 points per game to go along with 7.4 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Tatum also ended up shooting 45.9 percent from the floor overall and he knocked down 38.6 percent of his three-point attempts.
Since coming into the NBA, Tatum has showcased an elite ability to create his own shots. Not only can he create them, he knocks them down with the best in the business. However, the next step will be getting better at creating for his teammates and elevating their level of play.
Currently, there are a few superstars in the league who have developed to that point. Most recently, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to the NBA Finals, making his teammates better around him each and every game. That is where Tatum needs to get to for the Celtics.
Will Jayson Tatum accomplish that goal this season and reach the elite echelon of superstars in the game? We’ll just have to wait and see.
