Is Jayson Tatum a franchise player?

[JB2]

I think the problem with Tatum is he doesn't possess something that defines a franchise player. True franchise players are those that you build a team identity or system around because they have this transcendent skill/quality, like LeBron's otherwordly athleticism augmented by his godly BBIQ, Giannis' freakish physical attributes, Jokic's remarkable passing (almost Bird-like), and Durant's remarkable scoring instinct (on a 7-ft, guard-like body no less).

Tatum's calling card to being a franchise player could be his polished offensive game and efficiency as a scorer, similar to Dirk. However, Dirk was a 7-footer. Furthermore, Tatum hasn't been given the complete freedom to show off as a #1 option yet; he's been playing on some talent-rich teams that prevent him from being the #1 scoring option, like with the Kyrie Celtics and Team USA.

It's still too early to tell, though. Paul George and Jimmy Butler didn't break out until their third and fourth seasons, and Oladipo took quite a while as well. Right now, I think his ceiling is as an elite second option ala Paul Pierce during the Big 3 days, for the sole reason that he's not a freak specimen and athlete at his position, which most franchise players today are.

Are PG, Butler, or Dipo franchise players though..?

Serious question.

[LKN]

Right now no... in the future? Maybe

[Ill News]

I think the problem with Tatum is he doesn't possess something that defines a franchise player. True franchise players are those that you build a team identity or system around because they have this transcendent skill/quality, like LeBron's otherwordly athleticism augmented by his godly BBIQ, Giannis' freakish physical attributes, Jokic's remarkable passing (almost Bird-like), and Durant's remarkable scoring instinct (on a 7-ft, guard-like body no less).

Tatum's calling card to being a franchise player could be his polished offensive game and efficiency as a scorer, similar to Dirk. However, Dirk was a 7-footer. Furthermore, Tatum hasn't been given the complete freedom to show off as a #1 option yet; he's been playing on some talent-rich teams that prevent him from being the #1 scoring option, like with the Kyrie Celtics and Team USA.

It's still too early to tell, though. Paul George and Jimmy Butler didn't break out until their third and fourth seasons, and Oladipo took quite a while as well. Right now, I think his ceiling is as an elite second option ala Paul Pierce during the Big 3 days, for the sole reason that he's not a freak specimen and athlete at his position, which most franchise players today are.

Are PG, Butler, or Dipo franchise players though..?

Serious question.

I didn't say those three were franchise players, I was merely using them as an example of players who took a few years to attain star status since a lot of people at the GB are so quick to dismiss the potential of Tatum improving significantly.

But to answer your question, I only consider Paul George as a near-franchise player among those three, especially before his leg injury (he was a top-3 MVP candidate as recently as last season). They significantly raise the floor of their teams, but their best roles would be as the second-best players on the team, or if they're playing with another star of their caliber.

[Lalouie]

he's not a top10 or 20
he's not a franchise player

[Knicks7Tape]

Talented dude but some people talk about him like he is the second coming.

[penggemar]

Good, uncharismatic player. A star, but not superstar. Not a franchise player.

[FlatearthZorro]

Dude I remember them clear as day. Im sure others as well.

Besides, the point is that you guys massive overrated Tatum and Brown in their first years. There's no way you can deny that. A lot of people tried to warn you.

If you guys didnt overrate them that hard to begin with, I think they'd be getting treated a lot more fairly on here...which is being young players with a lot of potential who could potentially become All-Stars.

But here we are talking about whether or not he can be a "Franchise" player

Lol, it's hard not to overrate Tatum given the fantastic rookie season he had, and was even better during the playoffs. I mean, can you blame Celtics fans for hyping him? You're acting like we committed some crime here for suggesting he could be a superstar based on his incredible rookie year, when you guys would probably do the same. You're telling me if you had a rookie like that, you'd just be "Eh, this is probably his high point, it'll all be downhill from here!" Get outta here

He averaged 14/5/1 his rookie year. How was that fantastic and incredible?

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Scored 2nd most points for a rookie in playoff history behind Jabbar.

[basketballRob]

That dude Tatum is a superstar who can do it all, shoot, drive, score, pass, and defend, all at an elite level. 2019 was outlier because of moody ass Kyrie. Celtics now got the best point guard in the NBA as Tatum's sidekick. It's championship or bust for the next 15 years.

he can shoot but didnt shoot it well. i guess kyrie blocked too many of his shots or heckled him. he is a good passer but didnt pass well. i guess thats on kyrie. he is a good scorer, but didnt score well either in volume or efficiency. i guess kyrie forced him into too many long twos.

"celtics now have the best pg in the league" is sig worthy.

How many players his age shoot better than him?

Seems like you're being a hater.

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[FlatearthZorro]

That dude Tatum is a superstar who can do it all, shoot, drive, score, pass, and defend, all at an elite level. 2019 was outlier because of moody ass Kyrie. Celtics now got the best point guard in the NBA as Tatum's sidekick. It's championship or bust for the next 15 years.

he can shoot but didnt shoot it well. i guess kyrie blocked too many of his shots or heckled him. he is a good passer but didnt pass well. i guess thats on kyrie. he is a good scorer, but didnt score well either in volume or efficiency. i guess kyrie forced him into too many long twos.

"celtics now have the best pg in the league" is sig worthy.

How many players his age shoot better than him?

Seems like you're being a hater.

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The guy seems like he's living in an alternate reality. He's obsessed with the Celtics(particularly hating on the Celtics). He hates the C's more than he likes the Nets, was on our forum to tell us how bad the team is and how Kyrie was a victim(if you watched that 2nd round vs the Bucks, you'd know that very far from the truth and Irving was awful, I haven't watched a C's star play this bad, ever- if you check Irving's stats/advanced stats he was one of the worst players in the playoffs). Don't even bother paying attention to him. You can't argue reason with him at ALL, even if you throw straight facts he will write something just to write it, he has his own theories(which aren't backed up by anything outside of his imagination).


edit: Btw, if you check his posts, it's mostly hating on the Celtics. He doesn't post as much on his team as he does negative stuff regarding the C's.

[MagicBagley18]

Like I said earlier we shall see soon enough....but I do trust GM’s of other teams and scouts etc over a fan base or real GM posters. I know that he’s still highly regarded by them and I still know that Tatum was still the the guy the pelicans wanted above all in an AD trade.

We annoint people way too soon and bury them way too easily- after they don’t meet the expectations set for them that were so high to begin with.

[Don Ford]

He clearly isn't now so the question is whether he'll become one. I personally don't see it happening, more like an occasional AS player. But he's still young and is a work in progress so anything is possible.

[LakersSoul]

I see alot of comments on amongst nba fans and seen this exact argument on facebook. Half say Franchise player or star in the making and the Other say that he’s overrated

Tatum was looking promising his rookie year but last year showed he could still be good/great and with potential for AS seasons but right now far, far from a franchise player.

Boston has had historic and record breaking talented players. Hard at the current pace to see Tatum up there but you never know. He is still very young and has potential. Last year could have been a sophomore slump of sorts.

[Mikistan]

If Tatum is a franchise player siakam is a superstar

[LakersSoul]

Dude I remember them clear as day. Im sure others as well.

Besides, the point is that you guys massive overrated Tatum and Brown in their first years. There's no way you can deny that. A lot of people tried to warn you.

If you guys didnt overrate them that hard to begin with, I think they'd be getting treated a lot more fairly on here...which is being young players with a lot of potential who could potentially become All-Stars.

But here we are talking about whether or not he can be a "Franchise" player

Lol, it's hard not to overrate Tatum given the fantastic rookie season he had, and was even better during the playoffs. I mean, can you blame Celtics fans for hyping him? You're acting like we committed some crime here for suggesting he could be a superstar based on his incredible rookie year, when you guys would probably do the same. You're telling me if you had a rookie like that, you'd just be "Eh, this is probably his high point, it'll all be downhill from here!" Get outta here

He averaged 14/5/1 his rookie year. How was that fantastic and incredible?

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He was getting better throughout the season. Then in the playoffs he was Celtics best player and looked like a damn superstar.

Last season, he came crashing down and a lot of flaws were shown. He went from “no trade” list to “possible trade list”.

[rockmanslim]

I don't get all the questions about Tatum. His last season he was 20, it was only his second year in the league and he still averaged 15.7.

To give an example, (and not saying he's on this level) but Kobe averaged 7.6 his first year in the league and 15.4 his second year in the league (when he was 19). He didn't really start to reach his potential until he was 22, his fifth year in the league.

Heck, look at Oladipo. When he was 22 he was just scratching at the surface. It wasn't until he was 25, in his fifth year in the league that he really showed what he could do.

McGrady averaged 15.4 as well when he was 20, in what was his third year in the league. Tatum has shown all the indications that he's capable of being a special player. That doesn't mean he'll realize it, but he's simply too young and hasn't been in the league long enough to know for sure how great he'll be.

At 20, McGrady had elite handles along with world class athleticism and coordination. Tatum has none of those things.

[Illmatic12]

I don't get all the questions about Tatum. His last season he was 20, it was only his second year in the league and he still averaged 15.7.

To give an example, (and not saying he's on this level) but Kobe averaged 7.6 his first year in the league and 15.4 his second year in the league (when he was 19). He didn't really start to reach his potential until he was 22, his fifth year in the league.

Heck, look at Oladipo. When he was 22 he was just scratching at the surface. It wasn't until he was 25, in his fifth year in the league that he really showed what he could do.

McGrady averaged 15.4 as well when he was 20, in what was his third year in the league. Tatum has shown all the indications that he's capable of being a special player. That doesn't mean he'll realize it, but he's simply too young and hasn't been in the league long enough to know for sure how great he'll be.

At 20, McGrady had elite handles along with world class athleticism and coordination. Tatum has none of those things.

McGrady was also an elite defensive specialist at that time (he stopped trying on D later in his career)

Any comparisons of Tatum to McGrady are not worth discussing, people expose themselves as being new to watching basketball.


When you hear names like TMac, Kobe, Paul George, Oladipo etc these are all players who came into the league known as freak athletes and needed to refine their skill/IQ. Jayson Tatum is not a freak athlete to begin with, that’s the problem. His mediocre athleticism + physicality raised questions from draft scouts and ultimately is the #1 limiting factor why he is unlikely to become a superstar wing - he can’t make explosive plays to overpower a defense. And he’s not particularly crafty as a ballhandler/passer to make up for it.

Overall he doesn’t have any way to dominate or impose himself on the game other than shooting jumpers. That’s why I made the Derozan comp, although even Demar was much stronger and didn’t shy away from contact in the paint the way Jayson tends to do.

[drosereturn]

Like I said earlier we shall see soon enough....but I do trust GM’s of other teams and scouts etc over a fan base or real GM posters. I know that he’s still highly regarded by them and I still know that Tatum was still the the guy the pelicans wanted above all in an AD trade.

We annoint people way too soon and bury them way too easily- after they don’t meet the expectations set for them that were so high to begin with.

The only reason Tatum was coveted was that he was a rising star. Doesnt mean he can replace AD and no GM would remotely think about that possibility. Some people think Brown can wind up as the better player; Tatum should be very worried that he is not unanimously thought as the best young player even on his own roster.

Tatum really needs to show something why he should be considered as a special talent. Right now, he is nowhere close to a DPOY candidate and his scoring output is embarrassing to be called a star. A lot of players could easily shoot better than him if they cut down ill advised shots and make wide open jumpers. None of his skillset screams superstar/ all-star talent and Fox/Markk are all superior talents as of now.

[lambchop]

Lol, it's hard not to overrate Tatum given the fantastic rookie season he had, and was even better during the playoffs. I mean, can you blame Celtics fans for hyping him? You're acting like we committed some crime here for suggesting he could be a superstar based on his incredible rookie year, when you guys would probably do the same. You're telling me if you had a rookie like that, you'd just be "Eh, this is probably his high point, it'll all be downhill from here!" Get outta here

He averaged 14/5/1 his rookie year. How was that fantastic and incredible?

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Scored 2nd most points for a rookie in playoff history behind Jabbar.

Wow I totally forgot about that. Very impressive indeed.
How about his playoff ppg as a sophomore? I'm assuming top 3 at worst

[FlatearthZorro]

If Tatum is a franchise player siakam is a superstar

Or real tho, Siakam averaged in your playoff run the same numbers Tatum averaged at 19 on a better team, the Raptors team was lucky, but really good. Great defense and different guys were able to contribute at different times. Don't go there at all. Siakam is what 25??? You'd have to wait at least 2 more years before even going there, cause Tatum is 4-5 years younger and a far superioearr shooter, who still has a chance to develop his body thus allowing him to attack the basket like Siakam(his strong suit imo, was trash shooting the 3 in the playoffs this year)...

Let's see what both of them do in the this year on evenly matched teams, yes?

Also Kawhi was the 2nd best scorer in the playoffs, right? Kyrie shot around .400 from the field around 21 points(~20 from 3), took the most shots on our team. It's much easier to be Kawhi's 2nd option than it was Kyrie's, cause Kyrie had an abysmal playoff run for us both on offense and defense.

[KrAzY3]

Any comparisons of Tatum to McGrady are not worth discussing, people expose themselves as being new to watching basketball.

Anyone who can't tell a direct PPG to PPG comparison is just comparing offensive output lacks comprehension.

I'm a Magic fan, of course I remember and watched McGrady and I never said anything about them being the same type of players. Heck I specified "not saying he's on this level", but far be it for anyone to pay attention to that when responding. I was talking about an expected career arch, how many 20 year old year, second year players can you think of who had 15 PPG and peaked at that point? This isn't rocket science, really young/inexperienced players tend to get better.