Jayson Tatum is spearheading the Boston Celtics‘ quest to defend their NBA championship. After leading the Celtics past the Orlando Magic in the first round of the playoffs, Tatum now sets his sights on the New York Knicks in a bid for a conference finals berth. With his current level of play, Celtics legend Paul Pierce believes Tatum could eventually eclipse Kevin Durant’s legacy in the NBA.
Tatum has been nothing short of spectacular this postseason. Despite missing Game 2 of the opening series against Orlando, he responded with three consecutive performances of 35-plus points—marking a first in his career.
In addition, Tatum ranks among the top four in playoff points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks over the last five years, according to the X (formerly Twitter) account “CelticsUnite“. Pierce sees these achievements as a sign that Tatum may one day overshadow Durant, even if the recognition he deserves hasn’t fully arrived.
“Is he better than KD one day?” Pierce pondered during an episode of KG Certified with Kevin Garnett. “If he gets a couple more [championships], think about it. Right now, his statistics are heading in KD’s direction. He can do everything KD can do. They’re similar in a lot of ways. He might even have more handle. His bag is just as good. He can shoot, score—he’s got the three, the midrange, to the rack”.
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shoots against Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns during the second quarter at TD Garden. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Pierce draws comparisons between Tatum and Durant’s scoring
Although their playing styles differ, Tatum and Durant share the distinction of being elite scorers. Durant’s career scoring average stands at 27.2 points per game, compared to Tatum’s 23.6. However, Pierce argues that their scoring prowess is comparable.
see also
Jayson Tatum surpasses Ray Allen’s major feat after Boston Celtics’ loss vs Orlando Magic in Game 3
“I’m trying to see what KD does that Tatum hasn’t done, offensively,” Pierce explained. “They’re on the same level. Right now, you could put this version of Tatum in the conversation. He’s starting to show that extra ‘umph.’ I’m seeing it”.
Durant once praised Tatum’s elite status
Even Durant himself has acknowledged Tatum’s trajectory toward all-time greatness. During a 2021 appearance on The ETCs with Kevin Durant, the Suns star spoke highly of Tatum’s abilities.
“I’ve been in the league 13, 14 years, and I started tallying the matchups, the series, and the players I played against,” Durant recalled. “When I had conversations with my friends, I’m like, y’all have series against Kobe, LeBron, Tim Duncan, the Memphis Grizzlies… Jayson Tatum is in that conversation now because he’s an elite-level player already at 23″.
As Tatum continues to lead the Celtics this postseason, comparisons to Durant’s legacy will inevitably grow. With his unique blend of skills and leadership, Tatum has the opportunity to leave a mark that rivals or even surpasses that of the Suns’ superstar.
