Tatum the next Kobe?

[Kool_Name_Right]

I think his playing style is different than Kobe, I see more of a 6'9 Durant in style. He's going to be an incredible player, is also really easy to root for. He's been living in the gym this summer, already bulked up quite a bit too.

He had a crazy amount of big dunks and stuff all year, but outside of the dunk on LeBron then the go ahead 3, this was my favorite Tatum highlight of the year.

Watch on YouTube

Your on the money. His game has a lot more KD then anyone else. He stole a lot of Kobe moves obviously, but with that length, handle and his high release shot i can't not see a young KD at work.

He has the floor of Danny Granger and the ceiling of a Kobe/KD tier player. Only time will tell.

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[Nick Sigler]

He doesn't have the ceiling of KD/Kobe because he doesn't have anywhere near their quickness or athleticism, but he's definitely got potential there skill-wise.

[Jiminy Glick]

No his rookie season was more efficient than Kobe's peak efficient season. Also Kobe's athleticism and defense was much better.

[Cavsfansince84]

There's actually a smoothness to Tatum's game that reminds me a lot of a young Ray Allen. imo he could end up being a 6-8 Ray. Prob not quite the shooter but who knows. People forget how good young Ray was in terms of his all around game. He seems to have the same sort of work ethic also. Same calm demeanor.

[Patches Perry]

Kobe's scoring skillset was absurdly nuanced and polished. In today's game, that kind of nuance isn't really necessary. I think Tatum has a Paul Pierce/Tracy McGrady hybrid thing going on though.

[PierceFan4ever]

Never witnessed rookie Kobe to play because I was too young but how was his defense? For those questioning Tatum’s, his defense was above average and that’s as a rookie so I don’t see that as some potential question mark even though Bryant had numerous first team all defensive whether that was deserved or not but I was really impressed with Tatum’s defense as a rookie. Tatum will never have the athletism that young Kobe had and tbh very few players did have the athletism frobe had. Tatum imo is quick though that I think gets underrated in his game. His footwork at his age is super impressive. Don’t know what rookie Kobe was like as a ball handler but that’s something JT can get a lot better at even though he showed a lot of moments especially in the playoffs his dribbling skills. Passing as well. Tatum already has the skill of making difficult shots like Kobe could.

Way too early to make any comparisons to all time great talents as a rookie but I can see some part of his game that reminds me of Kobe and a bunch of other players. Nonetheless, cool to see.

[symbiotic]

The guy you're looking for is Carmelo Anthony

[Reflexx]

There are a lot of kids out there that play like Kobe.

What made Kobe Kobe is not the playing style. It was the intense, almost insane, level of sustained commitment and passion. The psychotic focus on winning and being great.

Is Tatum crazy in that way? If he is, then he might have a chance? Otherwise, no way.

[Goudelock]

I'd calm down with the Kobe comparisons, because it's unfair to call someone the next (insert hall-of-famer here). But he has a lot of tools to work with, so it wouldn't be surprising if he was contending for scoring titles in a few seasons.

btw, am I the only one who doesn't understand why Tatum is getting knocked for his athleticism? For a guy who is 6'8, he can get where he needs to go and can finish at the rim. Seems pretty athletic to me.

[juju14]

It's a pretty good comparison to be honest. He's not a guard so he's not going to have the passing as Bryant, that is true - but as a scorer, they're not that different.

To people saying he's like Paul Pierce and not Kobe Bryant, you guys do realize that Paul Pierce and Kobe Bryant are not very different right? If Paul Pierce had elite athleticism, he would basically be exactly like Kobe Bryant. Perhaps the biggest difference is Pierce relied more on raw strength, which is something that Tatum isn't going to rely on (he's not going to charge through people like Pierce did).


Tatum is closer to Bryant than he is Carmelo Anthony in terms of style.

Tatum bulk up? How do you know this.

[3toheadmelo]

whenever someone questions tatum's athleticism i laugh..

Watch on YouTube

[infintybeyond]

I'd calm down with the Kobe comparisons, because it's unfair to call someone the next (insert hall-of-famer here). But he has a lot of tools to work with, so it wouldn't be surprising if he was contending for scoring titles in a few seasons.

btw, am I the only one who doesn't understand why Tatum is getting knocked for his athleticism? For a guy who is 6'8, he can get where he needs to go and can finish at the rim. Seems pretty athletic to me.

His athleticism is only being questioned in comparison to Kobe, which is fair since this thread is titled "Tatum the next Kobe?"
Otherwise, in comparison to the rest of the league, he's pretty athletic for his size.

[bizil]

To be honest, I don't see the Kobe comparison. Gotta remember the Mamba was the TOTAL PACAKGE! Freak athlete, great scorer, great defender, great passing SG, very good to great rebounding for a SG. Plus he could play or defend PG, SG, and SF. And from there, had arguably the best scoring skillset of all time. I just don't think Tatum is in the mold of that kind of player. I see a bit taller and more athletic version of Paul Pierce.

Pierce of course was a great scorer with one of the best scoring skillsets ever. But Pierce's all around game wasn't quite on the level of Kobe. Yet it was still very good. And he wasn't as athletic as Kobe. But young Pierce was still athletic slashing to the rack and finishing. I just think u need to be a freak athlete, great scorer, and great all around player in one to be compared to a Kobe or T Mac type player. That's why I think Pierce is a great comp at this point. Which is great cause Pierce is a top 10 GOAT caliber SF.

[bizil]

Kobe's scoring skillset was absurdly nuanced and polished. In today's game, that kind of nuance isn't really necessary. I think Tatum has a Paul Pierce/Tracy McGrady hybrid thing going on though.

Good points! His body type reminds me more of T Mac. And his scoring skillset has shades of both. I think the difference between T Mac and Pierce back in the day was T Mac had a bit more positional versatility and was for sure more athletic. Defense wise, I think they were about even. So I for sure the PP-TMac hybrid.

[Edug27]

The guy you're looking for is Carmelo Anthony

ISO game and footwork do remind you of a young Melo.

[IgorK]

I really like Tatum and would rather have him than Lonzo. But he's no Kobe. As someone said, he reminds me more of a Danny Granger-type (and I mean that as a big compliment).

[itrsteve]

Nope.. Remember at the draft he had zero upside since his game was already too polished? Pundits declared that his ceiling was hit at Duke and would go no further.

Ohhh experts.

[HeartBreakKid]

Kobe's scoring skillset was absurdly nuanced and polished. In today's game, that kind of nuance isn't really necessary. I think Tatum has a Paul Pierce/Tracy McGrady hybrid thing going on though.

Good points! His body type reminds me more of T Mac. And his scoring skillset has shades of both. I think the difference between T Mac and Pierce back in the day was T Mac had a bit more positional versatility and was for sure more athletic. Defense wise, I think they were about even. So I for sure the PP-TMac hybrid.

Paul Pierce was a much better defender than Tracy McGrady, Pierce was one of the best defenders at wing in 2002. T-Mac was not a very good defender for the most part, and most people who say otherwise can pretty much only point to the time he gave Dirk a hard time.

[cupcakesnake]

Not as explosive as Kobe and a touch less creative.
Tatum is way taller/longer, more polished at the same age. He seems coachable and his game seems more scalable.
Kobe also gave off troubled psychopath vibes where Tatum seems level headed.

[mirrornick]

The closest player in terms of style of play, Midrange, footwork, post game, fadeaway , is DeRozan.