Jayson Tatum on if he feels appreciated:Honestly, no

[Sweet Serenity]

Because he has the best supporting cast in the NBA and it’s not even close.

There’s no other number one option in the league who could perform how he did in the ECF and Finals last year and walk away with a title. Zero chance for any other number one option to get away with that.

He averaged 30/10/6 in the ECF …

[DOT]

Winning a championship but not winning FMVP doesn't get you much respect if you wanna be talked about as one of the best players in the league

He's really good. Boringly so. He has no flaws in his game sure, but he has no one area where he's transcendent either. He's like if you play an RPG and just level everything up equally. Sure it'll work, but it's just kinda the bog standard build and never the optimum way to play.

[Woodsanity]

Because he has the best supporting cast in the NBA and it’s not even close.

There’s no other number one option in the league who could perform how he did in the ECF and Finals last year and walk away with a title. Zero chance for any other number one option to get away with that.

He averaged 30/10/6 in the ECF …

He played like an average all star at best last playoffs....

PER: 20.1
TS: 54.9%

Really mediocre play for an alleged "superstar"

[hugepatsfan]

He’s never had an argument for best player in the league, never deserved or received a first place mvp vote, so what more does he think a player at his level should be getting?

I think you're making his point. Underrated and under appreciated aren't the same thing. Why does the discussion with Tatum have to be that he isn't best player in the league, that he isn't the MVP. That's all anyone ever talks about with Tatum. It's not that he necessarily deserves to be ranked higher, but I think he's good enough that once in a while a twitter thread or a segment on a sports channel about him should be something positive vs. it 99% of the time being why he isn't the MVP or the best player in the league.

I agree that the public opinion on Tatum has been very negative lately. It might not be fair, but that comes with the territory with being a star on the defending champs.

He has also not done himself any favors in terms of his comments and sensitivity about his status in the league, with this quote being a prime example.

On your first paragraph... I really don't think that's true. Now granted, it's kind of unique to have someone win a title who doesn't have a strong or even feasible case for being the best player in the game, but I really don't think that's true to say that it comes with the territory of being a star on the defending champs for the ensuing discourse to be constant talk about how you're not the best player in the game. Like the last time BOS won before this, I don't think anyone elevated KG above Duncan. But the conversation wasn't just to constantly say that. KG got celebrated for his accomplishment rather than put down for how far is still didn't elevate him. Tatum hasn't really gotten any of that. The First Take and First Things First of the world only ever talk about him to say that he isn't the best player in the league or a top MVP candidate now.

On your second paragraph... yeah. Whatever love/respect/acknowledgement he isn't getting, he isn't going to get it from people with comments asking for it. At the same time now, it's become somewhat of a story to the point that he gets asked about it and just answers honestly. It's not like he just blurts this out. It's just made its way into the normal discussion topic for anytime someone wants to ask him a question.

[bisme37]

I think how Tatum is crying about being under appreciated is not really helping public perception of him. Maybe he is just a 4th grader.

He was asked a question. Gave an answer off the top off his head. I really don't think he called a press conference to share his prepared remarks on this.

Ironically I just made a similar point in a thread where posters were ripping on your Cav Donovan Mitchell for his answer to a question:
viewtopic.php?p=117209374#p117209374

Yeah, I don't think this is a prepared answer, but more like how he feels. Which is exactly why this is not helping how people view Tatum. He is properly rated: great player, not the next face of the league. You could swap JT with a 10+ players and Celtics would still be champions. People will not rave about players in that scenario. He is also great at the game of basketball, he just should not expect to be treated like Jokic.

Mitchell probably has an US bias for that answer. Plus lack some self awareness, which I learn to be common among high profile atheltes.

I don't agree with your assessment for the most part. The fact that people think 10 other players could do what he's done is, well, whatever.

As far as his personality etc, I really like and relate to the fact that he's just a regular nice kid with regular thoughts and feelings.
I mean who hasn't felt under-appreciated at times? It's just we don't have microphones in our face 24/7.

Anyway... there's been a million negative Tatum threads over the last several years. I used to get all worked up and defend him etc, but finally a few months ago I realized I wasn't getting anything out of people who don't watch him play tell me all about him lol. But I guess I was bored a little earlier and here I am again haha. My bad. Carry on.

[bisme37]

Because he has the best supporting cast in the NBA and it’s not even close.

There’s no other number one option in the league who could perform how he did in the ECF and Finals last year and walk away with a title. Zero chance for any other number one option to get away with that.

He averaged 30/10/6 in the ECF …

He played like an average all star at best last playoffs....

PER: 20.1
TS: 54.9%

Really mediocre play for an alleged "superstar"

He was the 6th player in NBA history to lead a title team in points rebounds and assist throughout an entire postseason. His 3pt shot wasn't falling but aside from that he played beautifully. While getting double and triple teamed by every opponent.

[ITYSL]

Darko agrees:

Read on Twitter

[Sweet Serenity]

Judging be some of the comments in here the quote went over everyone’s head because they already feel a certain way about him.

It’s like people saw the name of the player in the title & went ‘oh god what’s he saying now’ & I know that because people on here saying they don’t appreciate him because he doesn’t have charisma.
I’m sorry but when does charisma have anything to do with appreciating what a basketball player does. You might find him a bit dull as a person but the problem is that you guys are now conflating that with his basketball talent & resume.

He has every right to be annoyed with the way a lot of NBA fans talk about him. I’m sure all of you guys would be fine constantly getting slandered at work right ??

[Godymas]

i don't think people realize that he has a chance to beat LeBron's all time playoff scoring record

He's also going to comfortably break 30k points before 35.

[bisme37]

His playmaking has been off the charts lately. 30 assists in his last 3 games. Plus elite defense and the best non-big rebounder in the league. And never takes a game off even when the team wants him to rest. (Soft, am I right??)

But most people still judge him solely on shot-making like he's the same player he was at 19. It's kinda tragic lol.

[Sweet Serenity]

There’s some people here who talk like he’s not even a top 20 player in the league. He’s not wrong

Because he’s hardly scratching top 20. Just look at the stats, he’s lucky to have a good all around team around him.

You’re lack of basketball knowledge is quite evident if you truly believe what you just said.

[Stanq]

Judging be some of the comments in here the quote went over everyone’s head because they already feel a certain way about him.

It’s like people saw the name of the player in the title & went ‘oh god what’s he saying now’ & I know that because people on here saying they don’t appreciate him because he doesn’t have charisma.
I’m sorry but when does charisma have anything to do with appreciating what a basketball player does. You might find him a bit dull as a person but the problem is that you guys are now conflating that with his basketball talent & resume.

He has every right to be annoyed with the way a lot of NBA fans talk about him. I’m sure all of you guys would be fine constantly getting slandered at work right ??

Everyone with a Celtics flags thinks he is underrated? lol

[uncleduck13]

How much does Tatum’s looks play a factor into how hated he is?

[DLoMor]

There’s some people here who talk like he’s not even a top 20 player in the league. He’s not wrong

Because he’s hardly scratching top 20. Just look at the stats, he’s lucky to have a good all around team around him.

You’re lack of basketball knowledge is quite evident if you truly believe what you just said.

I already said my reasons why, so quit overrating him.

[Lakers In 5]

Personally, I don't think winning or not winning FMVP mattered at all for how people look at Tatum. Winning it would not have increased his rating, just like not winning it did not decrease it. Tatum is just stuck in no mans land when it comes to these things. He cannot hang with the likes of Jokic, Doncic and SGA, yet is too good to fall out of the top 15. Too small to be the tablecloth, too big to be the napkin.

His complete lack of persona and charisma also makes him rather unfit for this face of the league type debate he thinks he belongs in. One does not need to be extravagant like Ant to have character, but Tatum is just grey and bleak in that regard.

[Larry_Russell]

Really shouldn't matter to him if he's winning titles. Celtic fans get it. Who gives a crap what people think?

He doesnt care.

he was asked a direct question and answered it. He doesnt discuss this on his own.

[Flash4thewin]

He is like the Drake of the NBA. Sure he has talent be just feels so fake and manufactured.

[Lakers In 5]

Really shouldn't matter to him if he's winning titles. Celtic fans get it. Who gives a crap what people think?

He doesnt care.

he was asked a direct question and answered it. He doesnt discuss this on his own.

"If you took the name and the face away from all my accomplishments and you’re just like, ‘This is what Player A accomplished at 26,’ people would talk about [me] a lot differently," Tatum said. “Did he win a championship? Yes. Did he win gold medals? Yes. Was he always a part of winning seasons? Was he first team all-NBA? Those are things that you know are hard evidence," Tatum said. "Face of the NBA? They can always debate. But it’s like, I check off all the boxes."

Yes, this sounds like a man that does not care. Lol.

[Jaqua92]

Dammit I clicked on this and now I'm shaking my head at another JT thread. Kinda thought winning a title would earn the dude some respect from his haters but it's been the opposite if anything. Weird.

I swear some of y'all just hate his face and all your thoughts about the guy are filtered through that lens. Reminds me of 3rd grade.

I think how Tatum is crying about being under appreciated is not really helping public perception of him. Maybe he is just a 4th grader.

Tatum never talks about this stuff. Ever. He was asked a question and answered.

[DOT]

He is like the Drake of the NBA

Though Karl Malone was the Drake of the NBA?