Where does Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics rank among all other active NBA players?
That is the question that Chris Russo and the hosts of “First Take” debated on Wednesday morning.
Russo claimed that Tatum is not a top-five player and would place him around seventh or eighth place in the league’s top ten.
He received some pushback from Stephen A. Smith but Russo then listed other stars of the NBA and stated that Tatum wasn’t better.
.@MadDogUnleashed ranks Jayson Tatum seven or eight in the top 10 players in the NBA 👀 pic.twitter.com/31U2dczYjI
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 20, 2024
Tatum is recording 27.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists per game this season, shooting 47.4% from the floor.
To many, he is the best player on the best team in the league.
So why isn’t he considered a top-five player by Russo?
He didn’t get into the specifics on “First Take,” simply stating that he’d prefer other players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Nikola Jokic over him.
In many ways, Tatum is having his best season yet.
His numbers are obviously incredibly strong and he is performing with more efficiency and teamwork.
He looks more and more like the leader that Celtics fans have wanted to see.
Tatum is one of the main reasons why the Celtics have been doing so well this year.
They are the top seed in the entire NBA, holding a 54-14 record.
If they keep playing like this, they could be well on their way to another run to a championship.
The Celtics have been trying to win a title for years now and if they are able to do so this season, the conversation around Tatum will surely change.
He will probably be considered one of the best players in the league, even by Russo.
NEXT: Kristaps Porzingis Sends Clear Warning About The Celtics