Every NBA era has had its own superstar and for folks hitting their 20s, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum fits the bill, following in the footsteps of Michael Jordan and late Kobe Bryant.
Last week, the NBA draft got underway and the one NBA superstar who drew immense praise from some of the big names in that class was Tatum.
Cooper Flagg, the No. 1 pick of the Dallas Mavericks in the 2025 NBA Draft, didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite player:
“Probably Jayson Tatum, just because I’m a Celtics fan. I like his game a lot, and I kind of try and take pieces of his game.”
Jared McCain, who just completed a standout freshman season in the NBA, had this to say:
“I mean, if I could follow Jayson Tatum’s path exactly, I’d call that a real successful career for me.”
“I’ve been a big fan of JT for a minute now. Just getting to share the court with him is a blessing,” said Stephon Castle, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year.
2000s players looked up to Jordan.
2010s players looked up to Kobe.
Today’s NBA players look up to Jayson Tatum. pic.twitter.com/P7SywWU2tY— CelticsGlobe (@PlayoffCeltics) June 26, 2025
Seeing this praise coming from some of the young names speaks volumes about Tatum. After winning the NBA title in 2024, Tatum ruptured his right Achilles tendon in the Celtics’ conference semifinals loss the the New York Knicks last season.
There is a lot to like about Tatum. The Celtics forward is a multi-dimensional player, with the ability to shoot from anywhere on the court and an imposing athletic figure to steal the ball and snatch the offensive boards.
The Celtics were the favorites entering the playoffs and could have repeated as champions if not for the injury. Now, they have hit a hard reset with them trading away Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis in the offseason.
