Jayson Tatum of the Celtics Emerges as an Elite Scorer
In a surprising statistical revelation, Jayson Tatum has achieved the feat of scoring at least 30 points in 30.5% of his career games, surpassing even Stephen Curry in this regard. While the comparison may not be entirely equitable, it highlights Tatum’s ascent among the basketball greats as one of the most prolific scorers.
In a recent game against the Knicks, Tatum added another stellar performance to his resume, tallying 35 points and securing his fourth 30-point game in the last five outings. This marked his 137th career 30-point game, surpassing Kawhi Leonard by one in almost 200 fewer games.
Diving into the numbers since the 2020-21 season, Tatum has registered an impressive 97 30-point games, exceeding Curry’s count of 93. Even when considering the difference in the number of games played, Tatum’s percentage of 30-point games remains noteworthy.
Last season, Tatum demonstrated his scoring prowess by achieving the 30-point milestone in 57% of his games, outshining the percentages of seasoned stars like Curry, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James during their peak seasons. The Celtics’ forward has already achieved this feat in six out of 10 games this season.
At just 25, Tatum has become the youngest player in Celtics history to reach 10,000 career points. If projections are made based on his current trajectory, playing until the age of 38 and maintaining a reasonable average of 26 points per game, Tatum could potentially surpass the legendary Michael Jordan’s career points.
Even if Tatum were to continue his recent average of 28 points per game over the next several seasons, he could surpass Kobe Bryant for fourth on the all-time scoring list. While projections involve uncertainties, Tatum’s consistent performance suggests that he is on the path to becoming one of the greatest scorers in basketball history.
In the current season, Tatum achieved a season-high 35 points in a game against the Knicks, showcasing his remarkable consistency. His ability to influence games is evident, as seen in his contribution to Boston’s fourth-quarter points, where he either scored or assisted on 22 of the 30 points.
Tatum has expanded his scoring repertoire this season, including an increased focus on post-up plays, which has proven to be highly efficient. Despite the Celtics’ overall talent, the team experiences a significant positive swing when Tatum is on the court, emphasizing his crucial role in their success.
With impressive shooting percentages and newfound scoring dimensions, Tatum’s start to the season has not only elevated his individual performance but has also contributed significantly to the Celtics’ overall success.
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