Jayson Tatum’s ascent to NBA stardom has been nothing short of meteoric. The St. Louis native has constantly improved his game since entering the league in 2017 and we have seen his skills in the 2023-2024 season, where he has scored an average of 26.9 PPG, 8.1 RPG, and 4.9 APG. However, in the wake of the Boston Celtics‘ triumphant 2023-2024 championship run, the small forward has found himself embroiled in controversy.

The Olympics were quite harsh for the 26-year-old. Out of the 6 games that USA played, Tatum was allowed to only play in four games by the USMBNT head coach, Steve Kerr. Even though the team clinched the gold medal, most people were certain that Tatum must be scheming revenge on Kerr after returning to the country. But that’s not the case. According to NBA skills trainer Drew Hanlen, Tatum is not scheming for revenge but is busy finding and justifying his place among the NBA greats.

“I think a lot of people are like, ‘Oh, he’s out for revenge. I don’t think Jayson looks at it like that. He’s like, ‘Compare my résumé at 27 to Michael Jordan, who never won one at 27. Compare it to LeBron, who had won one. Compare it to Steph, who had one,” said Hanlen (as per ESPN). But is the young small forward correct?

Let’s look at the accolades to verify the young talent’s words. Tatum is going to turn 27 next year in March and before that, he already has a championship ring, has been a 5x All-Star, and also an NBA All-Star MVP. However, if we look at Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls legend won his first NBA championship in 1991, when he was 28 years old. On the other hand, LeBron James won his first championship in 2012 with the Miami Heat when he was 28 years old and Stephen Curry won his first one with the Golden State Warriors in 2015 when he was 27 years old. However, there’s one thing that separates him from the other great players.

Jordan, LeBron, and Steph won their first MVP titles before they turned 27 while Tatum is still left to win one. As a result, his bold statement comparing himself to these icons has sparked significant debate and criticism.

The Fans are not happy with what Jayson Tatum just said

The NBA landscape trembled in the wake of Jayson Tatum’s audacious self-comparison to Michael Jordan and LeBron James, igniting a firestorm that has rapidly reshaped fan sentiment towards the Boston Celtics’ star. While some fans have directly showered their critiques on the 26-year-old, some have used a more indirect approach. As one fan said, “Begging for approval,” it was quite evident what the follower wanted to convey, as not often does any player, a new player to be exact, compare himself with other NBA greats.

Back in March, in an interview with ESPN, Tatum had referred to himself as one of the best players in the NBA and had put himself before players like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embidd. The same is the case this time and a fan spared no time pointing out a fact. “No one loves Jayson Tatum more than Jayson Tatum,” said the fan.

The Boston Celtics are indeed a great team in the NBA. The franchise has 18 championships and is still showcasing the power of their team chemistry. Certainly, Tatum is lucky to be a part of that circle. However, the same was not the case with Jordan and LeBron. They both had started with a not-so-well-performing team. While Jordan drove the Chicago Bulls to greatness, LeBron found his game when he left the Cleveland Cavaliers and joined the Miami Heat. One follower was quick to point this, “Put Lebron in Tatums shoes from draft day until current day and at age 27 Lebron would have 3-4 rings given the teams Tatum has had.”

One fan even came up with a sarcastic one using a trending meme that suggested that Tatum was better than Jordan. “Jordan? Buddy, Jaylen Brown is more accomplished than you,” read the comment. The reason for the fan saying that Brown is better than Tatum is quite understandable. It all comes down to one thing: The MVP Award. Brown is an NBA Finals MVP, whereas Tatum, has none. However, even though there was so much hate building up on Tatum there were few who were on his side, as one said, “Tatum GOAT confirmed,” and another one read, “A good role player.”

The controversy surrounding Tatum’s comments underscores a broader discussion about legacy and validation in professional sports. In an era of quick joy and relentless comparison, rising stars are sometimes driven to establish their claim as all-time greats too early. Tatum’s remarks, whether spoken with confidence or uncertainty, represent the current dilemma.

Stay tuned for more such updates and join us for the exciting second episode of the “Dual Threat Show” as our host BG12 sits down with Georgia Bulldogs star and Mountain West All-Freshman Team Selection, Asia Avinger.