Why Does Jayson Tatum Get So Much Disrespect?

In this clip, JJ Redick, The Ringer's Ryen Russillo, and Tommy Alter discuss why Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum seems to get so much criticism and what it would mean to Boston if the Celtics win the NBA Finals against the Dallas Mavericks (Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving.)

Subscribe to The Old Man and The Three podcast w/ JJ Redick (ESPN / First Take) and Tommy Alter YouTube channel today for more NBA analysis, player interviews and highlights.

[mattislinx]

He hit it on the head. The Celtics were so far ahead of schedule back when Tatum and Brown were at the beginning of their careers. They've won a lot in the playoffs since the very start, so it kind of creates this illusion like they've been playing much longer than they actually have and they don't have the title to show for it. The reality is many stars and superstars did not win a title by the age Tatum is now. The guy plays great defense while being a great scorer. He's been first team All-NBA 3 years in a row while also being an MVP contender. He has also become a better play maker this season in my opinion. Not to mention he was just the second player since 1973-74 to lead all players in points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks in a playoff series. He finds ways to impact the game when he's not having great shooting performances.

[bc_qbeval]

The same people who still criticize Tatum for the '22 Finals are the same ones who said the Celtics wouldn't make it past the Nets in the 1st Round.

[Cazuron]

someone on Twitter said because "no aura"

[MrMilez-icvl]

If Tatum had Brown’s aggression he’d be unstoppable

[scandelez]

He gets disrespect because he plays well enough at times that he could be considered best in the league but he doesn’t do it consistently. So we all have elite 1A expectations for him and when he doesn’t live up to that we feel like he’s shortchanging us. It’s the same reason I get on Harden as much as I do, I’ve seen this guy go for 60pt triple doubles but then he goes 2-12 in an elimination game. It’s frustrating when you’ve seen someone’s potential.

[daanishkhan]

1. Plays on the Celtics
2. Has made many far playoff runs that have brought a lot of disappointment
3. Most fans don’t realize how impressive his accomplishments are for his age (or in general, think about how hard it is to make the Conference Finals and he’s done so many times)

[jasonwolfe]

He's right about Tatum wouldn't be getting as much criticism if he wasn't so successful so early, which is kind of crazy. Embiid rarely get criticism for never making the ecf despite playing with all stars Maxey, Butler, Simmons, Harden. He still wins mvp and is thought of as a top 5 player.

[pyrom]

Perfect assessment on that last minute tied game scenario. It's absolutely painful to watch the C's abandon team basketball in crucial moments. We resort to tatum\brown iso ball too much when the 3 ball isn't falling. Kp is the only guy that can change this because he opens the floor so much.

[SSJRome]

It would be a whole different tune if Tatum won in the finals vs the warriors

[Christohh]

Also he has a very underrated playoff resume

2-1 vs Giannis and the bucks

3-0 vs Embiid and the 76ers

2-2 vs The Miami Heat Jimmy Butler era

Swept the Kd and Kyrie nets

Most points in a game 7 ever

And has been in two finals now

Very underrated resume

[ajitkirpekar]

I think it boils down to something very simple: they played ugly series against the Warriors where their turnovers specifically were the reason they lost. And then they followed it up with a horrible disaster series against a vastly inferior opponent in Miami.

[fifismochi]

I get annoyed whenever I see someone stating that Celtics are constantly underachieving, because the majority of the Tatum years, we were overachieving.

2018, yes, Tatum was drafted to the team that just went to the ECF, but first of all, that 2017 run was so unlikely. We only went that far, because IT went nuts. And a loaded team? Both of our two trade acquisitions (Gordon and Kyrie) got injured and didn't even play in the playoffs. Rookie Tatum was arguably this team's best player and they made it to the ECF.

2019, sure, given that the Celtics just made the ECF, you can argue that the Celtics underachieved.

2020, Kyrie just left in free agency and I'll be honest, that 2019 season did not give me confidence in the remaining roster. We did get Kemba, but he was never the same after that All-Star game. If Tatum/Brown didn't make that leap this year, we were probably headed for a rebuild. Instead, we went to the ECF again.

2021, it was literally Tatum against the Nets superteam at full health (Brown was injured). He literally had to go supernova and drop 50 just to prevent us from being swept. No way you can tell me that they underachieved this year.

2022, we were constantly hovering around .500 for the first half of the season. If you told me around December that we were going to make the playoffs, I would have called you crazy. Tatum did underachieve in that Finals, sure, but we were not supposed to make it that far.

2023 is the only other time Celtics underachieved, besides 2019.

[brady_k]

Honestly idk, people just hating on him for no reason, he’s like the chillest guy in the league

[brockjensen]

It’s quite simple, people don’t understand the value of experience in basketball. Jayson Tatum is only 26 years old and he’s been to the finals twice now, conference championship 4 times, by the end of the finals he’ll have the most playoff points by a player by the age of 26, he already has a 5-2 record in game 7’s (in 21 years LeBron is 6-2, Curry is 3-2).

Tatum gets all the hate because at such a young age he’s had the privilege of being on some very good basketball teams which have seemed to underachieve because the expectations were so high but in reality people just expected to much of him at such a young age.

The frustrating thing is Anthony Edward’s gets praised for the exact same thing Tatum gets hate for. At 22 years old in the playoffs Tatum averaged 30.6PPG, 4.6APG, 5.8RPG, 1.6BPG & 1.2SPG with 2.6TOV but unfortunately Jaylen Brown got injured so Boston was a very underwhelming team and got knocked out of the first round.

Anthony Edward’s this post season (22 years old) averaged 27.6PPG, 7.0RPG, 6.5APG, 1.5SPG & 0.6BPG with 3.3TOV. On a significantly better team than Tatum, Ant lost in the 3rd round.

Edward’s is praised Tatum is trashed on, it makes no sense.

[miketavars]

The people of Boston love, the sports media of Boston does not speak for Boston or New England

[teedashmusic]

Saying Tatum is disrespected a lot then proceeds to disrespect him lol

[jaydenwilson]

People simply don’t think he can be that guy to lead the team to the championship because of how much times he has been there to the ECF despite being only 26

[andysauro]

Its because the Media were so quick to crown him as the next best American Great before he went through the process to EARN that respect. Ant will be on that same trajectory as we are starting to see. This has less to do with criticism towards these men themselves.

[JoshuaYeshuaCSULB]

Before I watch the video, my guess is that he doesn’t “break” the game with any particular skill. Like Steph shooting, Lebron/Giannis brute force, etc. He just plays basketball with a balanced style.

[Guggernut]

Hard disagree when he said Dallas hasn't been challenged by a big pulling out to the 3 line. Minnesota was doing that with KAT on the non-Rudy minutes, which was often, and they also did that against OKC with Chet.