The Boston Celtics have made it clear that they intend to build around Jayson Tatum for the next decade or so.
Tatum hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential; he’s just 25 years old and continues to get better every year.
However, sometimes it feels like he tries to do too much to get to his spots, overdribbling and making unnecessary crafty moves that lead to nothing.
That’s why former NBA player Channing Frye believes he would be unstoppable if he used all three levels of the court, as he rarely takes what the defense gives him.
.@TaylorRooks: "Who’s somebody that, if they just changed how they were working out, they’d reach that next level?"@channingfrye: "Jayson Tatum… If he would just take what the defense gives him, he would be unstoppable.” #NBATwitterLive pic.twitter.com/YrSTU91m7o
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 26, 2023
Frye believes Tatum needs to change his scoring mindset a little and take more mid-range shots if that’s what the defense is giving him, citing that he’s good and talented enough to make them pay from all over the court, similar to what Kevin Durant does.
That has been an usual complaint about Tatum’s game, especially when he’s working out.
It seems like he and his trainer have put a lot of emphasis on those crafty moves at the top of the key to try and drive to the lane, and he often makes things more complicated than they should be.
Then again, he’s posted MVP-caliber numbers for three consecutive years and he continues to take leaps offensively every single season, so it’s not like he’s not getting the job done right now.
Tatum has the potential to become a generational scorer, and he has plenty of basketball ahead of him to fulfill that potential.
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