Legends like Chris Paul often came under scrutiny for performing every year in the NBA. The NBA fraternity continues to criticize him for not winning the championship, even though he is one of the best point guards in the league of his generation. But it’s the harsh reality of the NBA these days with superstars needing to prove themselves year after year. Think of Jayson Tatum, for example. The guy won the NBA title and still gets criticized for not showing up on court.

During a press conference after the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Los Angeles Clippers, a reporter questioned Paul about his need to prove himself to the NBA each year. Without hesitation, he said, “Absolutely.” This is Paul’s 20th year in the league and he has played for some top franchises. He directed the question and compared it to Jayson Tatum’s plight. To be honest, Tatum doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.

CP3 mentioned in the press conference, “It’s so what have you done for me lately? You know what I mean, seriously. I don’t know. We did the Countdown stuff and they was killing JT. And that man won the finals. He won an NBA Championship and they still tying to figure out what he, what he did wrong. You know what I mean?”

He continued, “So, when you accept that, you have to show up every day, right? It’s not about what you did in the last game. What you did in the last year, you gotta show up every day.”

When you think of Tatum, he entered the league in 2017 and everyone didn’t believe in the kid. He played well for the Boston Celtics, averaging 13.9 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, showcasing his gameplay to the league. But he never won a title until last year, despite being a team possession superstar. Moreover, the finals MVP saga became another critical point about Tatum’s understated ability.

The finals MVP battle between Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown!

Significantly, there was nothing between them. Let’s look at the stats comparison between the two players:

If you see the entire stat list, Tatum edges Brown in minutes played, points, rebounds, assists, three-point percentage, and free throw percentage. Now to top all that and not win the finals MVP, the league needs to introspect these decisions. Yes, Brown produced some game-winning blocks, but Tatum carried the Celtics for a long time.

He provides crucial baskets for the team when they need them. Moreover, he takes a lot of shots, leading to his 38.8% but never shies away from a challenge. Hence, what more should the forward do to win back the haters? Well, as Chris Paul said, you prove yourself every passing year. If he wins the NBA title this year, we sure well know how Jayson Tatum would want the finals MVP.

He has mamba blood in his veins!