The latest NBA Finals were a chance for even the most casual basketball fan to meet Jayson Tatum and his Boston Celtics.
The team has been slowly putting together a special, young team full of great talent and the league’s biggest game was the first time that many people saw how they worked.
They definitely worked well – and hard – but in the end it wasn’t enough to overcome the Golden State Warriors.
Jayson Tatum is the only player in NBA playoff history to amass 1,500 PTS & 500 REB before turning 25.
Youngest to reach 1500 PTS & 500 REB
1. Jayson Tatum – 24y, 102d
2. LeBron James – 25y, 108d
3. Kevin Durant – 25y, 218d
4. Kobe Bryant – 25y, 249d
5. Magic Johnson – 25y, 292d pic.twitter.com/uXZlmmX0nI— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) September 21, 2022
Throughout the playoffs, Tatum was doing some sensational stuff for his team and was also setting records, not only for the Celtics but for the entire NBA.
Tatum is now the only player in NBA playoff history to amass 1,500 points and 500 rebounds before turning 25 years old.
Tatum reached that milestone at 24 years and 102 days while LeBron James did it at 25 years and 108 days.
The other people on this short list are Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Magic Johnson.
This means that Tatum is in great company and is following in the footsteps of some of the most iconic NBA stars of all time.
Tatum’s Totals
Tatum was definitely very impressive during most of the playoffs.
He was leading his team in the most important statistics and was able to work his way through almost any other defense in the league.
It was the end of a banner season for him, one in which he really came into his own and became the superstar that many had hoped for.
However, he certainly still has room to grow.
During the Finals, Tatum has a lot of trouble getting past the Warriors and at times seemed flustered or thrown off his game.
But this was his first Finals appearance and he surely gained a lot of knowledge with it.
The next time he and his Celtics play in the championship, you should expect to see a bigger and better Tatum.
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