Jayson Tatum thinks he's the best player in the league

[LessEyeTest]

I'd take Tatum before Embiid at the very least, OP. Tatum has shown he can raise his game in the playoffs, albeit not always. Embiid on the other hand has shown to have the greatest drop off in production between regular season and playoffs in NBA history.

[sp6r=underrated]

It's OK for one of the top players to have self belief... in fact it's practically required for them to keep upping their game.

I'd be a lot more worried if he was saying "No, I'm really not on that tier, Embiid is so so good, I'm not there yet."

+ 1. Almost all high acheivers in any field either have great self-belief bordering on delusion or are deeply, profoundly insecure. Tatum's belief in self is a great thing for Celtics fans and is a major reason he developed his potential so fully.

[Hoop Hunter]

I don't see anything wrong with him believing that. He's freaking good. He's a top 10 player, at worst.

[ajones9219]

You can have confidence, and then you can think you're the best player in the world. The two are not the same.

Two ways you get there:

1, you win MVP, 2 you win a chip. Tatum has none of those, and he's on the most stacked team in the league, so no I don't think it's a given that he's the best player in the league because he's on the best team in the league.

Lol at the reactions on here. I seem to remember Embiid say stuff like he deserved MVP, and all ya'll called that cringe, and believed he shouldn't win it because of that. But someone can say they are the best player in the league?

LMAO this is like LeBron anointing himself the best player of all time in an interview with his homies. . You don't say that about yourself, you let others say that about you. That's the whole point. There is being self confident and then theres being insane. Tatum has done nothing in this league to deserve that rep.

I don’t get it why you continue saying best team in the league ? Is Denver Nuggets as far as I’m concerned

Best player Jokic whole day everyday

To bad we can’t see Tatum vs Jokic , Jimmy comes and spank those Saltics once again

How are the Nets doing this season?

[Slimjimzv]

Oh, because it would go over so well if he said, "No, I'm just lucky to be in the NBA. There are tons of players better than me." Of course he's going to say that he's the best. Hell, Chet Holmgren said the same thing before he was drafted. Every NBA star had better say that they think they're the best in the NBA.

[RB34]

This post is clueless beyond clueless.

But tatum got exposed in nba finals . 21 ppg for best player in league? Please

Tatum always shrinks in postseason, Harden lite

Crazy to me that some people that the time to post on a basketball forum but don’t actually watch ball.

[Cavsfansince84]

I doubt this is something that crosses the mind much of any guy we think of as being top 10 in the league. They are most concerned with just trying to win a ring, be all nba or possibly get an mvp. They are only going to think about this when asked by some interviewer and have to give some kind of answer off the top of their head.

[AussieCeltic]

Hahahahahahahhahahahaha....

Read on Twitter

Talk about delusions of grandeur...

Someone needs to set this guy straight in the playoffs. Yeah yeah, he does it to Embiid every year. He's got a good record in the playoffs, but by no mean is he the best player in the world.

I'd argue the following are all better than him.

Embiid
Jokic
Giannis
Luka
SGA
Steph Curry
Kevin Durant
Jimmy Butler
LeBron James

You’d think after the guy has destroyed your favourite player and team consistently, you’d have some appreciation for him.

You do realise the more you talk poorly on him, the worse it looks for Embiid?

He’s out played Embiid, KD, Butler in a series. He had one of the best eliminations games ever against Giannis. The most points in a game 7 in NBA history. Top 50 all time playoff scorer by the age of 25. He’s the same age as SGA but has actually played in big games.

Currently the best player on the best team in the league and you’re laughing at that?

You might think he’s 5th or 7th best player but I’d rather my guy had the mentality that he’s the best over a guy like Embiid who is too scared to even lace them up in games at altitude.

[CS707]

Who knows what he actually believes but it's almost taboo to be his position and not give that response.

[RB34]

[x]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=fZMiJXVZ8uunE_S3J4PM9g[/x]

[RoyceDa59]

I’d say the argument could at least be made.

[og15]

Who knows what he actually believes but it's almost taboo to be his position and not give that response.

Yea, and a top 10-ish player in the league thinking they are the best is really not news. Nothing to laugh at really, it's good, let him have that confidence.

[Apz]

Obviously he is not, but he is close enough to make himself believe it, which u have to fo at that level

[azcatz11]

Steph would have said he wasn't. I'm sick of the PC answers.

[AussieCeltic]

Steph would have said he wasn't. I'm sick of the PC answers.

Steph said he’s the best PG of all time last year and said he was the best player in the world in 2015.

[ChuckChilly]

The audacity.

[GrandTheftRondo]

He relies heavily on the midrange, and he's not great at it. A lot of 3s, that don't go in, when it matters the most.

This post is clueless beyond clueless.

But tatum got exposed in nba finals . 21 ppg for best player in league? Please

I love how this stupid First Take narrative has infected NBA fans minds when it comes to players.

If a player has a bad series it apparently means they’re exposed whatever the hell that means.

Exposed as what? A garbage NBA player?

Always would have thought if you’re exposed that would mean you’ve consistently failed to perform at a high level in high pressure situations. This has never been the case with Tatum.

But instead people like you will continue to write stupid **** about a 6 game stretch.

[TroubleS0me]

He's need stop having games in the playoffs going 4-12 FG , 3-17 FG etc

[AussieCeltic]

He's need stop having games in the playoffs going 4-12 FG , 3-17 FG etc

Every single player has those games - especially guys who shoot 3’s at volume. Tell me you’re fav player and I’ll show you plenty of those types of playoff games from them. Heck, Jimmy Butler averaged 14 points a game on 29% in a first round series only 2 seasons ago yet he has this “playoff Jimmy” mantra which is absolute BS.

Even Jokic who is one of the most efficient players we’ve ever seen, went 8-29 in a playoff game last season.

[TroubleS0me]

He's need stop having games in the playoffs going 4-12 FG , 3-17 FG etc

Every single player has those games - especially guys who shoot 3’s at volume. Tell me you’re fav player and I’ll show you plenty of those types of playoff games from them. Heck, Jimmy Butler averaged 14 points a game on 29% in a first round series only 2 seasons ago yet he has this “playoff Jimmy” mantra which is absolute BS.

Even Jokic who is one of the most efficient players we’ve ever seen, went 8-29 in a playoff game last season.

True but he those performance in big moments
He hasnt had a good/legendary playoff run. If anything its been okay/slighy below average