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Stephen A. Smith Picks Jayson Tatum Over Several Stars On Major List

Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics reacts versus the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. — (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)

The Boston Celtics‘ Jayson Tatum has wilt one of the weightier players in the NBA over the last few years, but there is some debate well-nigh where he ranks on the list of the weightier superstars in the game.

Many finger that Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks should rank whilom him, and Doncic is once stuff talked well-nigh as a leading candidate for this season’s regular-season MVP award.

But ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith thinks Tatum is not only largest than Doncic, he moreover picked Tatum as his weightier NBA player who is 25 years of age or younger, via the “Club Shay Shay” podcast.

Stephen A. Smith picks Jayson Tatum over Luka Dončić, do you agree?@StephenASmith chooses #JayTatum0 as the weightier player under 25 in the NBA over @luka7doncic, @TheTraeYoung, Zion Williamson, @theantedwards_ , @MELOD1P, @shaiglalex, @swipathefox, and others. pic.twitter.com/Ug8YPfvk6b
— Club Shay Shay (@ClubShayShay) September 4, 2023

Smith’s reasoning is that Tatum is a largest 3-point shooter, has unceasingly been in largest shape than Doncic, and has had some big playoff performances.

However, the other side of the treatise is the fact that Doncic is a significantly largest facilitator, passer, and ball-handler than Tatum, who is mainly a closer and not really a creator.

In addition, Tatum has a polychrome history in big playoff games.

He dropped 51 points in Game 7 of this past season’s Eastern Conference semifinals versus the Philadelphia 76ers, but in Game 7 of the pursuit round versus the Miami Heat, he scored just 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting.

The previous season, he played poorly in the NBA Finals as the Celtics lost in six games to the Golden State Warriors.

This season, Tatum will have a variegated supporting tint virtually him, as Marcus Smart is out and the skilled but injury-prone Kristaps Porzingis is now wearing the untried and white.